41.   The vast and sparsely populated Central Asian state, which borders on Russia and China, is one of many routes used by people smugglers.

42.   It also says it lacks the naval resources to monitor its vast coastline and the police resources to produce the evidence required to bring suspected people smugglers to court.

43.   Malaysia and Indonesia are popular transit points for people smugglers because they have visa-free arrangements for many of the source countries.

44.   New Zealand could become a target destination for people smugglers, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said here Sunday.

45.   People smugglers frequently abandon their human cargo off shore from their destination so as not to be arrested.

46.   Ruddock pointed out that some refugees tried to pick a final destination with the help of people smugglers even though they had reached safety and been granted asylum elsewhere.

47.   Ruddock says the strategy has already had a significant impact on stopping people smugglers bringing people illegally to Australia.