Police close on Bali nine's 'Pinocchio'

CANBERRA - Investigators appear to have made significant breakthroughs in the pursuit of a narcotics network believed to have been behind the failed bid to smuggle heroin out of Bali that saw nine Australians arrested and facing the death penalty.

Australian media reported yesterday that Federal Police codebreakers had uncovered the PIN numbers of the mobile phones taken from members of the group, allowing them to begin hunting for other suppliers and distributors.

Among the key figures sought by police is a contact known as "Pinocchio" who was to have been phoned by the four alleged "mules" after their arrival in Sydney.

The existence of "Pinocchio" was revealed during interrogation by Bali police of Renae Lawrence, 27, Martin Stephens, 29, Scott Rush, 19, and Michael Czugaj, 19, who were arrested at Denpasar airport with 8.3kg of heroin taped to their bodies.

None was able to give further details of the contact, but police believe they may be able to track him using phone records from the mobile phones' network provider.

The Sydney Morning Herald said a Bali forensic detective had revealed the breakthrough and said investigators now had printouts of all phone records of the 10 mobiles seized from the group.

In a further development, ABC radio reported yesterday from Bali that Andrew Chan, 21, one of the alleged leaders of the group, had admitted owning two suitcases, containing traces of heroin, found in a room of Kuta's Yans Hotel.

Chan had booked into the hotel under a false name but had not stayed there. He was taken off a flight to Sydney at the time the "mules" were arrested.

Alleged fellow traffickers Myuran Sukumaran, 24, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, Si Yi Chen, 20, and Matthew Norman, 18, were arrested at the Melasti Hotel, across the street from the Yans.

Police found 300g of heroin, scales and packing tape in their room.

Meanwhile Norman, who has reportedly been crying himself to sleep and screaming for his mother, appears likely to finally receive a visit from his family.

Sydney radio talkback host John Laws has offered to fly his mother, Robyn, to Bali.