DARWIN-ADELAIDE RAIL LINE 'POTENTIAL DRUG ROUTE'

Northern Territory police say they are working with federal and interstate
authorities to limit the chance of drugs being trafficked on the new Darwin
to Adelaide railway.

A police analysis of the security and safety risks associated with the rail
line has identified the potential for drugs to be moved around Australia
via the train line.

Assistant Commissioner Grahame Kelly says police are preparing for the
possibility of drug traffickers using the new route.

"This is a situation where we have a new freight link that covers quite a
substantial part of the country and as a matter of course we do a strategic
analysis of something like that," Commissioner Kelly said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's director of customs, John Marks, says
it will continue to work with police and other intelligence agencies to
monitor the need for customs resources on the rail link.

"It's certainly a factor," Mr Marks said.

"We don't have a particular concern about it but it is something we are
factoring into our operational planning."