LAWYER IN DRUG BUST

ONE of Melbourne's leading criminal lawyers will face court today after
being charged in connection with a $6 million weekend cocaine bust.

Andrew Fraser, who has defended a bevy of high-profile clients, was arrested
during a series of police drug swoops in Melbourne's inner southern suburbs.

The 48-year-old solicitor from West St Kilda has been charged with
trafficking cocaine as part of the Operation Regent stings that allegedly
netted 6kg of the drug.

His big-name law clients have included jailed businessman Alan Bond,
football ace Jim Krakouer, and Anthony Farrell, one of the men charged but
later acquitted over the 1988 Walsh St police shootings.

Mr Fraser, another man and two women were arrested after cocaine with a
street value of $6 million was allegedly seized in raids on flats at St
Kilda, West St Kilda and Elwood.

An Elwood man, 52, a St Kilda woman, 35, and an Elwood woman, 35, have been
charged with being knowingly concerned in a prohibited import.

Mr Fraser has been regarded for more than a decade as one of Victoria's most
sought-after and tenacious criminal lawyers.

He opened his own firm last year after five years as a partner in the
Melbourne legal team of Galbally, Fraser and Rolfe.

The weekend seizures were made by officers from the Victoria Police drug
squad, the Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service.

Det. Chief-Insp. John McKoy of the drug squad said his squad, the Federal
Police and customs were committed to more combined operations in the future.

The four charged over the weekend raids will face Melbourne Magistrates'
Court today.

Meanwhile, the Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police have forged
closer links with a new detective interchange program.

Detectives will be seconded to their counterparts' drug intelligence areas
for up to 12 months under the scheme.