Police have dismantled what they allege to be a major criminal network supplying ice and other drugs in Queanbeyan and the Snowy Mountains, arresting 10 people while conducting raids across the regions on Thursday.
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The six men and four women have been charged with more than 60 offences in total, and six of them are set to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Friday.
NSW Police have heralded the arrests as a major win for regional towns, saying "things will be very different in and around our snowfields" as the result of a crackdown on drug supply.
Police earlier this year set up Strike Force Heeterra to investigate prohibited drug supply in the regions.
After what were described as extensive investigations, strike force officers on Thursday raided two homes in Queanbeyan, seizing several items including cocaine, cash and weapons which will undergo forensic examination.
A 31-year-old man and two women - aged 25 and 37 - were arrested and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station.
The man was charged with 20 drug supply offences and participating in a criminal group, while the 37-year-old woman was charged with eight counts of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.
They were both refused bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Friday.
The 25-year-old woman is expected to face court at a later date after being charged with supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.
The arrests of that trio followed five men and two women being taken into custody in Cooma earlier on Thursday morning, when police kicked off raids about 8am.
Officers said that while executing five search warrants across the Snowy Mountains town, they located and seized drugs, a gun and electronic devices.
Four of the seven arrested in Cooma were refused bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Friday.
They were:
- A 25-year-old woman charged with 17 drug supply offences and participating in a criminal group;
- A 35-year-old woman charged with four counts of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group;
- A 34-year-old man charged with 10 drug supply offences and participating in a criminal group; and
- A 35-year-old man charged with traffic and property offences on outstanding warrants.
The remaining three were granted strict conditional bail by police to appear in Cooma Local Court on September 9.
They were:
- A 28-year-old man charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in criminal group;
- A 29-year-old man charged with six counts of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group; and
- A 46-year-old man charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.
Detective Superintendent Kevin McNeil said the arrests would have a major impact on drug supply throughout the Queanbeyan and Snowy Mountains regions.
"These arrests are the culmination of excellent work by the Region Enforcement Squads and our local police during extremely trying times," the NSW Police southern region operations manager said.
"At the start of the snow season we made it clear that things will be very different in and around our snowfields.
"Under Operation Snow Safe, we have officers deployed to Jindabyne and surrounding areas to ensure the safety of the wider community.
"Taking drug suppliers off our streets is another way we are continuing to tackle crime in our regional towns and communities.
"The supply of drugs in regional towns has a major impact on our community, and it simply won't be tolerated."
Investigations are continuing.
