Click through the carousel above for photos of the arrests and a map of where yesterday's coordinated police raids took place.
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5.30pm:
Noon: TWO men have appeared in Wagga Local Court this morning on a number of charges relating to the supply of prohibited drugs and their involvement in a criminal group.
Police arrested three men and seized nine kilograms of methylamphetamine during an operation in Gundagai about 9am yesterday.
The methylamphetamine have an estimated street value of $9 million.
Hank Peter Pickett, 40, from Malua Bay, and Luigi Gino Fato made brief appearances in court this morning before magistrate Michael Antrum.
Both matters were adjourned to Batemans Bay Local Court on February 24.
Bail was not applied for and refused by Mr Antrum for both.
Pickett has been charged with five offences including supply/knowingly take part in the supply of a prohibited drug, supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant in a commercial quantity and knowingly participating in a criminal group to assist crime.
Fato appeared on similar charges, which include the supply of a large commercial quantity of a commercial drug and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.
The third man will appear in court later today, with his solicitor on his way from Canberra.
10am: A series of raids across southern NSW yesterday has eventuated in the arrest of three men and the seizure of nine kilograms of methylamphetamine at Gundagai.
The nine kilograms of methylamphetamine have an estimated street value of $9 million.
The trio - a 62-year-old man from East Lynne, a 63-year-old man from Malua and a 40-year-old man, also from Malua Bay – were taken to Wagga Police Station, where they were charged with numerous offences relating to the large commercial supply of prohibited drugs and participation in a criminal group.
All three were bail refused and are scheduled to appear in Wagga Local Court today.
In 2012, detectives from the Drug Squad and investigators from the Far South Coast Local Area Commands formed Strike Force Oceanic to investigate a major drug supply syndicate operating throughout southern NSW.
Police will allege the syndicate was involved in the production, distribution and sale of commercial quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis.
Yesterday officers also executed search warrants at properties across the state, including:
A property on Wood Road in Yenda where police located and seized two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder
* A home in Napoleon Street, Sans Souci, where a hydroponic cannabis set-up and six large cannabis plants were located.
* A home in Bringelly, where police seized more than 90,000 rounds of ammunition, seven firearms (two shotguns, four rifles and an air-rifle), and numerous electronic devices.
*A rural property in Crowther where officers discovered approximately 2750 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of approximately $5.5 million.
* A property in Palmerston in the ACT where officers arrested a 40-year-old man before charging him with drug supply offences, and for knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
* A home in Batemans Bay, where police arrested a 46-year-old man before charging him with drug supply offences, and for participating in a criminal group.
* A property in the southern Sydney suburb of Miranda, where police arrested and charged a 36-year-old man before charging him with the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial purpose and for drug possession.
* A home on Georges Bass Drive in Malua Bay where police located 163 cannabis plants.
* A property on the Princes Highway in East Lynne where police located a hydroponic set-up with 24 cannabis plants and a number of seedlings.
* A property on Quort Pot Road in Buckenbowra, where officers located and seized cannabis seeds, ammunition and a loaded rifle.
* A property in the suburb of Surfside where police located and seized six cannabis plants.
In addition to drugs, ammunition and weapons, police have also seized a number of vehicles, machines and documents during the search warrants.
A number of search warrants at a variety of locations throughout NSW are still in progress and more items of interest are expected to be seized.
The Commander of the Drug Squad, Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke, said yesterday’s operation would seriously disrupt the illicit drug trade in many parts of southern NSW.
“We will allege in court that there had been a major syndicated operation in the supply of drugs to numerous communities throughout the south of the state, and we are confident yesterday’s arrests will seriously disrupt the syndicate’s activity,” Detective Superintendent Cooke said.
7am: POLICE say nearly $15 million worth of illicit drugs have been seized and a number of people arrested following coordinated raids in a number of towns across the state yesterday, including Yenda.
5.30am EXCLUSIVE: A YENDA property was searched by police yesterday as part of an investigation into the supply of drugs across southern NSW.
Police officers from the state crime command and the drugs squad will address the media today after a search warrant was executed at the location.
Witnesses have told The Daily Advertiser that plain-clothed police officers were seen speaking with the owner.
It is understood the search started as early as 10am, with at least three police vehicles and a number of officers seen at the property.
Police were also seen loading two small trucks but what was placed in them remains unknown.
A spokeswoman for NSW police confirmed late last night that representatives from the drug squad and the commander of the Far South Coast local area command would address the media today as part of an investigation into drug supply in southern NSW.
A press conference is expected to be held at the state crime command's Parramatta headquarters.
