Pubdate: Mon, 13 September 1999 Source: Herald Sun (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 1999 Contact: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ Author: Mark Buttler 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D