Police have warned desperate women contemplating trafficking drugs for cash that they are running “the greatest risk” in doing so. The comments came after a number of high profile cases involving female drug mules being caught and jailed. A total of 27 have been arrested since January 2010.Assistant Commissioner David Mirfield said last night: “While females are being drawn into the trafficking of drugs it is often the case that they are lured into becoming a drug mule by being provided with overseas expenses [airfare/hotel/shopping money] and additional but nominal monetary reward paid upon successful importation.“It is an extremely sad situation that it is often vulnerable females including single mothers who are drawn into a criminal enterprise for a relatively small payment.“They often run the greatest risk and, as has been seen, the chances of them being caught is extremely high, with significant prison sentences delivered. The Bermuda Police Service message however is simple, whether you are distributing, delivering, or organising the trafficking of controlled drugs you will be dealt with in the same way, your chances of getting caught are high and you will be sent to prison.”He added: “The message to members of the public that may be lured into trafficking drugs is no matter how desperate your situation may be, there are other avenues of relief.”According to Mr Mirfield, 53 men and 22 women were arrested for drug importation and attempted importation offences last year. This year has seen 12 men and five women arrested so far.A number of those cases have already come before the courts and seen women receive lengthy sentences. Some smuggled the drugs internally, which can be fatal if the packages burst.On Tuesday, Desiree Burrows, 21, and Shaniqwa O’Brien, 20, were jailed for 18 months for smuggling almost $30,000 of cannabis resin in on a charter flight from Jamaica. The women concealed the drugs inside their bodies. O’Brien told police the deal was arranged by a Bermudian male, but would not name him.This afternoon, a man is due to be sentenced for roping a female friend into smuggling more than $22,000 worth of cannabis into Bermuda for him.Jason Fox, 35, a Bermudian-Canadian, was stopped with his Bermudian friend Kezia DeSilva, 23, last June when they arrived on a flight from Canada. DeSilva was found to have 447.5 grams of cannabis strapped to her legs underneath her skirt.Fox tried to distance himself from her, but it was later established that he paid for her ticket, knowing she would bring the drugs. His DNA was found inside and outside the packages of drugs.DeSilva was jailed last year for possession with intent to supply, and Fox is facing jail when he is sentenced on the same charge today.Last month, 22-year-old Canadian Kayla Nicol was jailed for three years for smuggling cocaine into Bermuda to earn $5,500. She concealed the drugs inside her body but was arrested after arriving on a flight from Canada on January 16.In another case last month, single mother Shanae Vanderpool, 26, was jailed for two years for smuggling $250,000 worth of cannabis into Bermuda. She strapped the drugs to her legs, but was caught when she arrived on a flight from Canada in December. She told police she’d been offered $5,000 to transport the cannabis.Another Bermudian woman, Co-Shae Bartrum, 20, is facing jail after admitting importing $657,000 worth of heroin last May. She pleaded guilty at Supreme Court in January and is due to be sentenced next month.l Anyone with any information on the trafficking of controlled drugs should call the independent confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline on 800-8477.