Two men were arrested at in a Wollongong suburb have been charged with participating what police allege is a large-scale drug supply syndicate in the Illawarra.
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In June, detectives attached to Wollongong Police District established Strike Force Elfrida to investigate the commercial supply of cocaine, MDMA and methylamphetamine throughout the Illawarra.
During the investigation strike force investigators seized more than 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, 850 grams of methylamphetamine and a kilogram of MDMA and ecstasy tablets.
The estimated potential street value of these drugs is in excess of $1.6 million.
Further investigations led to detectives stopping a vehicle on Waverley Road, Unanderra, about 2.30pm on Wednesday, where they arrested two men aged 22 and 26.
They were taken to Wollongong Police Station.
After the arrest search warrants were executed at four homes in Calderwood and Cordeaux Heights.
Other searches of homes in Bidwell and Arncliffe were conducted at the same time.
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During the searches, police allegedly seized several items including cocaine, cash and prohibited weapons.
The 22-year-old was charged with four counts of supplying a prohibited drug - large commercial quantity, five counts of supply prohibited drug - commercial quantity, seven counts of supply prohibited drug - indictable, four counts of supply prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The 26-year-old was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity, six counts of supply prohibited drug - commercial quantity, five counts of supply prohibited drug - indictable, three counts of supply prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime.
They were both refused bail to appear and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
Wollongong Police District Commander, Superintendent Evan Quarmby, said the arrests are the culmination of months of investigations by local detectives.
"The hard work and dedication of our officers has led to the arrest and charge of two men for commercial drug offences," Supt Quarmby said.
"I want to reinforce the message that supplying drugs will not be tolerated in our community.
"In the past six months alone, we have seized more than three kilograms of prohibited drugs that police will allege came from this syndicate operating between the Illawarra and Sydney.
"We will continue to dismantle criminal networks operating in our region, even if we have to do it one by one."