DRUG MULES WARNED OF DEATH RISK

YOUNG people who swallowed drugs in a bid to smuggle them into
Australia risked death by overdose or by execution should they be
caught in some of the region's nations, Australia's most senior
police officer said yesterday.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty said the
prevalence of internal drug smuggling appeared to be on the rise.

He said 28 internal drug couriers had been caught at the Australian
Customs barrier last year, with 22 in the past six months.

"That is a worrying trend. Whilst young people will always take risks
and we understand that young people have different ideas, no risk is
any greater than risking your life by internally carrying drugs," he said.

"They burst inside the body. Then it is left to the medical experts."

Mr Keelty said Australian police were working throughout the world
with local police to tackle drug trafficking.

He said young people needed to know that that work would expand.

"We are doing everything we can to reduce the risk of these drugs
coming to Australia. Young people need to understand they not only
risk their lives, they also risk detection," he said.

Mr Keelty said drug distributors inside Australia, not the young drug
couriers, were the main police targets.