Police have seized hundreds of ecstasy tablets as well as a large amount of cash, firearms, cannabis, amphetamines, war medals and snakes in a series of raids in Cooma on Wednesday morning.
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Detectives from Monaro Local Area Command have been investigating the supply of drugs in and around Cooma and in the Alpine region since May, resulting in a number of raids across NSW since last Friday, starting at a hotel in Sutton.
The investigation resulted in the seizure of thousands of blue "Batman" ecstasy tablets, which police have previously issued a public warning about, and the supplier being arrested and charged.
On Wednesday morning, police searched 13 properties in Cooma, arresting eleven people
The first was at 4.50am, where a 26-year-old man allegedly in possession of 500 ecstasy tablets was arrested.
Shortly after 7am, investigators attended a Bombala Street property and arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly had 50 ecstasy tablets in his possession.
At 8.30am, police searched 11 Cooma properties, seizing a large amount of cash, firearms, cannabis, ecstasy tablets, amphetamines, war medals and snakes and arresting eight men and one woman.
Those arrested were taken to Cooma and Queanbeyan Police Stations, where they are currently assisting with inquiries.
The Cooma raids were sparked last Friday evening when investigators attended a hotel in Sutton and arrested two 23-year-old men from Sydney's northern beaches.
One of the men, from Collaroy Plateau, was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug commercial quantity, supply drug small quantity and supply prohibited drug ongoing basis.
The other man, from Wheeler Heights, was charged with supply prohibited drug commercial quantity.
A short time later, investigators searched homes on High Street, Bankstown; Rose Avenue, Collaroy Plateau, and Blackbutts Avenue, Frenchs Forest, seizing prohibited drugs and computer equipment.
At the search in Bankstown a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs including 'blue Batman' ecstasy pills - containing the drug 25c-NBOMe - were seized.
A 28-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, supply of a prohibited drug in a commercial quantity and supply of a drug in a small quantity.
On Friday night, officers from Monaro Local Area Command arrested a 23-year-old Frenchs Forest man at Dee Why Police Station, on the Northern Beaches.
The man was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug commercial quantity and supply drug small quantity.
The Southern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Gary Worboys said it was a tremendous investigation by Monaro Local Area Command officers.
"The seizures, arrests and charges relating to these prohibited drugs are going to put a dent in this drug syndicate.
"This assists in taking a large amount of harmful drugs off our streets, helping to keep our communities safer," Assistant Commissioner Worboys stated.
