Stay away from drugs trade, ‘mule’ in Bali jail tells TV audience

One of the nine Australians facing the death penalty for smuggling heroin in Bali has warned others away from the trade as investigators widen their hunt for the network believed to be behind the bid to fly drugs to Sydney.

Michael Czugaj, an 18-year-old recruited by traffickers in a Brisbane nightclub along with fellow alleged "mule" Scott Rush, 19, gave the warning in a brief interview from prison with Channel Nine.

"Yeah, just, I'd like to say to everyone it's too easy to get involved in this stuff," he said.

"All it took was one word and next thing I know I'm having drugs strapped to my body."

Czugaj, Rush, Martin Stephens, 29, and Renae Lawrence, 27, were arrested at Denpasar airport with 8.3kg of heroin taped in slabs to their bodies.

Andrew Chan, 21, alleged to be one of the ringleaders of the group, was removed from another flight without drugs in his possession, but was arrested after a surveillance operation mounted with the help of the Australian Federal Police.

Four others - alleged kingpin Myuran Sukumaran, 24, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, Si Yi Chen, 20, and Matthew Norman, 18 - were arrested with drugs and other evidence at a Bali hotel.

Sukumaran, Chan and Nguyen have been placed in separate cells after allegations of intimidation and threats against the families of other members of the group.

All are charged under a law which prescribes the death penalty for trafficking, raising opposition in Australia and a pledge by the Government to try to intervene to have any death sentence commuted.

Australian concern has been increased by the looming decision in the case against Shapelle Corby, accused of smuggling marijuana into Bali, and has prompted the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra to defend its position.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have fallen victim to drug abuse," it said. "Therefore the Indonesian Government has always enforced stern action against those involved in drug smuggling."

Indonesian and Australian investigators are trying to track the suppliers and distribution networks they believe lie behind the failed smuggling attempt.

Bali police have named Sukumaran as the main player and enforcer in the group, and allege he and the others arrested in the hotel room were preparing for another shipment.