Illegal drug suppliers in NSW have been dealt a major blow after the seizure of $15 million worth of drugs and arrest of 12 people in the state's south, police say.
Officers on Wednesday arrested three men during an operation in Gundagai and seized nine kilograms of methylamphetamine with an estimated street value of $9 million.
They allege the syndicate was involved in the production, distribution and sale of commercial quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis.
After the men's arrest, police executed a number of search warrants across the state, resulting in more arrests, drug hauls and firearm seizures.
Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke said police were confident the operation seriously disrupted the syndicate's activities.
"This is a major arrest, putting a great dent, we think, in the sale, supply and distribution of prohibited drugs right through NSW, and not only across the southern regions," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Those criminals (who) think that they're operating in relative obscurity in country regions should know that they are certainly not."
He said investigations were continuing and that police hoped to make more arrests.
The men arrested in the Gundagai operation, aged 40, 62 and 63, were charged with numerous offences relating to the large commercial supply of prohibited drugs and participation in a criminal group.
They were refused bail and were due to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Thursday.
Police also executed search warrants on Wednesday at numerous properties across NSW, including Sydney and a property at Palmerston in the ACT.
At Bringelly, more than 90,000 rounds of ammunition and seven firearms were seized while at Crowther about 2750 cannabis plants were seized with an estimated street value of $5.5 million.
At a property at Yenda, police seized two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder.
Police said that at Sans Souci in Sydney, a hydroponic cannabis set-up was located and a 36-year-old man was charged with exposing a child to illegal indoor cultivation and given conditional bail to appear in court in March.
Other men, aged 46, 36 and 40 were also arrested in the raids and charged with drug offences while about 200 other cannabis plants were seized.
The arrests follow those of five other people during earlier stages of investigations into the alleged syndicate.
