Three men face court over drug charges

A man faced court in Canberra whilst two other men appeared in court in Melbourne today charged with drug-related offences including trafficking MDMA (also known as ecstasy).

These arrests follow a joint investigation conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection in relation to a criminal syndicate, which is believed to be responsible for organising multiple large scale importations of border controlled drugs into Australia, as well as drug trafficking and associated money laundering.

As a result of investigations since 8 August 2008, the AFP executed search warrants this morning in the Canberra suburbs of Fadden and Hume and in Braybrook and Reservoir, Victoria.

A 47-year-old Fadden man, a 38-year-old Reservoir man and a 27-year-old Braybrook man were arrested.

The Fadden man was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 302.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and conspiracy to import a border controlled precursor, contrary to section 307.11 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

He faced ACT Magistrates Court today and was remanded in custody until 9 April 2009.

The Reservoir man and the Braybrook man have been charged with trafficking a border controlled drug, namely MDMA, contrary to section 302 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

They were bailed in Melbourne Magistrates Court today and are due to reappear on 12 November 2009.

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.