Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 Source: Age, The (Australia) Copyright: 2001 The Age Company Ltd Contact: http://www.theage.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5 Author: Australian Associated Press FEDERAL POLICE AGENT IN COURT ON DRUGS CHARGES MELBOURNE - A 28-year-old federal police agent charged with drug trafficking was allegedly on his way to pick up ecstasy pills when his colleagues arrested him, a court was told today. Melbourne Magistrates Court was also told that just two days before his weekend arrest, Stuart Lyall (Lyall) was secretly recorded saying he had used cocaine after his shift at work had finished. Lyall, of South Yarra, is facing 10 charges, including possessing ecstasy and cocaine and trafficking ecstasy. He faces a further commonwealth charge of releasing proscribed information after he allegedly told people he was dealing with about federal police methods of surveillance and covert operations. Lyall, a federal agent of three years standing, was arrested by his colleagues at 1.40am on Saturday in Flinders Street, inner-city Melbourne. Police allege Lyall trafficked ecstasy mainly in the city's dance party scene and sourced the drug from both Melbourne and interstate. Prosecutor Matthew Phillips said federal police received the tip-off from a registered informant in April that an unknown federal agent was selling drugs in Melbourne's dance scene. Lyall has been released on a $20,000 surety and is due to reappear in the court on April 5 next year. Thirteen other people in Melbourne and interstate have been implicated in the network. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth