MAYOR 'SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED'

RAIDS of Griffith properties believed to be linked to the world's
biggest drug seizure have "absolutely shocked and disgusted" the
city's mayor, Dino Zappacosta.

Three men from the Griffith region were arrested and charged
yesterday after an extensive Australian Federal Police (AFP)
investigation led agents to the area.

The raids followed 12 months of investigations after 4.4 tonnes of
ecstasy was discovered in a shipping container in Melbourne last
year, with an estimated street value of $440 million.

"It's just unbelievable. I cannot believe people in Griffith might
still be involved in the illicit drug trade," Cr Zappacosta said.

The operation included 400 agents executing 45 search warrants in
NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

It has also thrown Griffith back into the spotlight for drug-related crime.

"We've spent the last 30 years trying to build Griffith's reputation
as a cosmopolitan city, and it's definitely set us back," Cr Zappacosta said.

A 46-year-old man from Tharbogang, near Griffith, and a 45-year-old
man from Griffith were charged with conspiracy to import MDMA
(ecstasy), trafficking MDMA and aiding and abeting the importation of cocaine.

Another Tharbogang man, aged 51, was charged with the same offences
with the additional charge of conspiring to import a precursor.

The men are among 21 people the AFP arrested yesterday, and 15 had
been charged last night.