DRUG `STUNT' MAY SEE MEN FREED

A "publicity stunt" by the federal Justice Minister, Senator Amanda
Vanstone, in which cocaine valued at $120million was destroyed before
media cameras, could lead to dismissal of charges against those
accused of importing the drugs.

Lawyers acting for seven men charged with importing a record half a
tonne of cocaine, seized from a yacht last month, have accused the
minister of denying their clients natural justice by ordering the
destruction.

The burning of the drug by Federal Police and Customs at an industrial
incinerator in Sydney last Tuesday occurred despite defence
solicitors' pleas to Senator Vanstone and Federal Police to halt the
destruction.

After the drugs were destroyed Senator Vanstone told the Senate: "It sends
a very clear message to drug traffickers: their money goes up the chimney
and their colleagues will spend years in prison.

"There wouldn't be a drug cartel in the world that can happily lose
500 kilos of cocaine. This is a serious blow to any business."

Solicitors Ms Rosemary Freeman and Ms Deb Paton have accused Federal
Police and the minister's office of failing to inform them of the
decision to destroy the cocaine and ignoring requests for a viewing
and an independent analysis of the drug's content.

The destruction occurred a day before Federal Police were required to
serve the brief of evidence detailing their investigation into the 1
February seizure from the yacht.

At the time Federal Police and Customs trumpeted the success of the
operation because of the introduction of new technology, including
long-range surveillance equipment, vessels and aircraft.

Ms Freeman and Ms Paton said they were stunned to learn of the "stunt"
at virtually the "11th hour" on Tuesday and had made many phone and
written fax requests to the minister's office, the Commonwealth
Director of Public Prosecutions and Federal Police that day to try to
stop the destruction.

Ms Paton said she had asked Federal Police in mid-February for a
"viewing" of the cocaine, being held in the AFP's Sydney drugs vault,
but had received no reply.

Ms Paton said she learnt by chance of the AFP's decision to destroy
the drugs about 10am on Tuesday from a radio report.

She contacted the AFP, Commonwealth DPP and the minister's office to
try to have the destruction cancelled.

A spokesman for Senator Vanstone said the burn-off was in accordance
with national guidelines allowing for the quick destruction of large
quantities of alleged drugs seized.