ABC removes Fazal Four Corners programmes

In late July 2026 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation began withdrawing investigative documentaries produced by former Four Corners journalist Mahmood Fazal. On 24 July the ABC took down two Four Corners reports, *Meth Highway* (2024) and *Cocaine Nation* (2023), after staff raised doubts about the reliability of some sources. The broadcaster announced that the matter had been referred to its Ombudsman for an independent review and noted Fazal’s dismissal in May 2026 following an internal probe into his external podcast work.

A week later, on 31 July, the ABC expanded the removals to three programmes, adding the May 2023 Background Briefing episode “Remy was 12 when she became a drug dealer”. The statement reiterated concerns over source veracity and the ongoing Ombudsman review of compliance with editorial standards. The controversy sparked internal debate over journalistic ethics and the ABC’s reputation, and it also referenced the involvement of artist‑turned‑convicted drug dealer Benjamin Aitken, who appeared in the contested reports.