A former Vice editor is accused of trying to use young journalists and up-and-coming artists to smuggle cocaine from Vegas to Australia.

Three current or former Vice journalists claimed that Taroslav Pastukhov, then-Vice Canada's music editor, tried to get them to join the international drug smuggling ring, the National Post reports.

Each was allegedly offered $10,000 if they agreed to carry the drugs in the lining of suitcases from Las Vegas to Australia. The journalists did not say whether or not they accepted the offer.

Three current or former Vice journalists claimed that Taroslav Pastukhov (left and right) then Vice Canada's music editor, tried to get them to join the international drug smuggling ring

However, Pastukhov former roommate, Toronto electro artist Jordan Gardner, along with Nathaniel Carty, a New York model and three other Canadians were arrested on December 22, 2015 after police found drugs in the lining of their suitcases.

Gardner and Carty, 22, were immediately charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Canadians Porscha Wade, 20, Robert Wang, 24, and Kutiba Senusi, 23, were also charged later that day. They have all pleaded guilty except for Wade whose trial is scheduled for September.

They face up to life in jail for drugs smuggling.

Two days before the arrest Carty, posted a photo of himself at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas with the caption: 'See you tomorrow Australia.'

Australian authorities estimate the street value of the seized cocaine is worth anywhere between $5.1 million to $6.6 million.

None of the allegations against Pastukhov have been proven.

It does not appear that any criminal charges or police investigations are underway into Pastukhov, 26.

But he was fired from his job at Vice Canada last February after employees raised concerns.

Pastukhov former roommate, Toronto electronic music artist Jordan Gardner (left) along with a New York-based model Nate Carty (right) and three other Canadians were arrested on December 22, 2015 after police found drugs in the lining of their suitcases

Pastukhov (pictured) was fired from his job at Vice Canada last February after employees raised concerns

Many said they had been scared to report the offer as Pastukhov appeared to be close to management and they didn't want to jeopardize their careers. They also describe a very laid back attitude towards drugs taking at Vice.

However, things changed after news of the Australian arrests.

Sources told the Post that someone anonymously emailed a news release about the arrests to Vice Canada's office in early 2016, with a note saying Pastukhov was involved.

Around the same time, a group of staff had been out for the evening when someone brought up Pastukhov's alleged offer. At least one other person at the table said they too had been approached to smuggle drugs, sources say.

Some of those employees, who were concerned he was endangering staff, decided to raise it with management.

On February 16, 2016, a small group of staff were then called into the Vice office before the working day began and met with Vice's human resources department and lawyers to discuss their allegations.

When Pastukhov arrived at work several hours later, he was fired.

Gardner, Carty, and three other Canadians were arrested on December 22, 2015 after police found drugs in the lining of their suitcases (pictured_

Australian authorities estimate the street value of the seized cocaine is worth anywhere between $5.1 million to $6.6 million

'Upon learning of these allegations in early 2016, Vice Canada took immediate and swift action to address these claims through our Human Resources department, enlisting an employment law specialist to consult throughout and engaging an outside criminal law firm to conduct an investigation on our behalf and contact the Toronto Police Service,' said Vice Canada's head of communications Chris Ball.

However, Toronto police say they could find no record of allegations against Pastukhov from Vice.

Ball added that the company's employee handbook contained a 'zero tolerance' on drugs.

'Vice Canada takes allegations such as these very seriously as the safety of our employees is our first and foremost concern.'

'Based on the results of the internal investigation the employee was promptly terminated on February 16th, 2016.'

Months after he was fired, Pastukhov posted a bitter tweet which read: 'friendly reminder that journalists are just professional snitches.'

The three journalists who claimed that Pastukhov had offered them $10,000 to carry the suitcases to Australia, include a freelancer, an intern and a full-time member of staff.

Gardner (pictured) and Carty, 22, were immediately charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine

The former freelancer said she received a private Facebook message, seen by the Post, from the former editor in December 2015

In it, he offered her a free trip to Australia, with spending money thrown in and $10,000 on her return.

The journalist says she was initially excited, assuming Pastukhov was offering her a big freelance assignment. She says he asked her to switch the conversation to text, where she asked what she would be doing in Australia.

Pastukhov reportedly replied: 'U go to Vegas with a friend, you each get two bags (4 total) and there's stuff in the lining (undetectable) and go to Australia where those bags get picked up. 10k on return.'

The freelancer said she was shocked and disappointed as what she described as a 'very obvious' attempt to recruit her as a drugs mule. She refused but never reported the interaction to Vice management.

The intern and full time staff member both reported very similar offers from Pastukhov.

'I think he just targeted all the young people there,' the freelancer said.

The male intern, who was advised to bring a pretty white girl with him if he went on the trip and offered a $1,000 finders fee for roping in other recruits, claims that Pastukhov told him that he'd already made the trip himself.

Two days before the arrest Carty, posted a photo of himself at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas with the caption: 'See you tomorrow Australia'

Pastukhov began writing for Vice Canada in January 2013 and was appointed editor of Vice's Noisey Canada in 2014.

His writing is littered with drug references and discussions of his wild, party lifestyle.

Vice Media, which began as an underground alternative site in Canada in the early 1990s, has become increasingly corporate since 21 Century Fox and The Walt Disney Corporation who bought ten per cent of the company for US$400 million in 2015.

But employees claim that the drug culture is still rife at Vice which regularly publishes on drugs.

Meanwhile, employees complain of the low salaries which could mean an offer of $10,000 is all the more tempting.

Pastukhov refused to comment on the allegations.