Following an eight month investigation involving authorities from NSW, Queensland and South Australia, police arrested 67-year-old pilot John Charles White on the tarmac of Deniliquin airport at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Detectives from the NSW gangs squad discovered 45 kilograms of cannabis on board and four kilograms of a precursor to the drug ice. Mr White, who is from Queensland but had flown from Adelaide, was charged with two counts of supplying large commercial quantities of drugs.

Detective Inspector Gavin Wood of the gangs squad said Mr White's arrest triggered further raids in southern NSW, South Australia and Queensland.

In Hay, an hour and a half's drive from Deniliquin, Deniliquin police raided three properties, arresting four men.

The men - Steve Harris, 38, Morgan Cox, 29, John Mirabelli, 43, and Frank Ruberto, 46 - were charged with gun supply offences and have been refused bail to appear in Deniliquin Local Court on Thursday.

Detective Inspector Wood said police would allege in court that large commercial quantities of drugs and firearms were being trafficked across the NSW border by people affiliated with the Descendants and Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gangs in South Australia.

The seizure of the ice-precusor was a "significant seizure in anyone's language", he said, and would have translated to a "very large commercial quantity of ice once manufactured".

The drugs were destined for the NSW market, he said.

He praised the co-ordinated efforts of police across the three states as "a great example of police doing their job, working together towards the one direction and one aim".

- Sydney Morning Herald

EARLIER

Police have seized drugs, guns and a plane in the western Riverina as an eight-month investigation into cross-border drug and firearm supply hits full stride.

Strike Force Charker was initiated in January to combat the supply of drugs and illegal firearms in the Hay area.

In the eight months of Charker’s existence, police have seized 38 guns, 100 ecstasy pills and a small amount of ice while uncovering links to outlaw motorcycle gang activity in South Australia.

NSW Police Gangs Squad detectives intercepted a light plane as it landed at Deniliquin Airport around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Police will allege 45 kilograms of cannabis and four kilograms of a precursor to ice was found on board and confiscated from the plane, while the 67-year-old Queensland man piloting the aircraft was placed under arrest.

The plane will undergo forensic examination.

At the same time the plane was searched and seized, three search warrants were executed in Hay, on the northern fringe of the Deniliquin Local Area Command.

Four men – aged 38, 29, 43 and 46 – were arrested during the Hay searches. The four were charged with ongoing gun supply and will appear at Deniliquin Local Court today (Thursday).

South Australian Police raided nine properties in Adelaide, arresting six people including a 52-year old man from Salisbury North, a 49-year-old man from Allenby Gardens, a 31-year-old man from Salisbury North, a 28-year-old man from Klemzig, a 31-year-old man from Findon, and a 26-year-old man from Elizabeth for serious drug offences. 

South Australia Police will allege that large commercial quantities of drugs were sourced in South Australia and transported to New South Wales by people linked to organised crime groups.  

Queensland Police Service’s Taskforce Maxima also executed search warrants upon a number of addresses in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Queensland man arrested in Deniliquin will face the local court today on two charges of large commercial drug supply. He was refused bail on Wednesday.

The Gangs Squad’s Detective Inspector Gavin Wood said the operation demonstrated the close co-operation between different policing jurisdictions to tackle organised crime.

“These investigations have been into a suspected major supply chain for illicit commodities across state borders,” Det Insp Wood said.

“It sends a strong message that borders are irrelevant to law enforcement agencies working collaboratively to target the trafficking of firearms and drugs.”

Deniliquin Local Area Commander, Superintendant Paul Condon, praised the work of the local investigative team in the operation.

“This has been a comprehensive investigation by a committed team of police officers who kicked off this case then worked in close partnership with their Sydney and interstate colleagues,” Supt Condon said.

“These officers have played an integral role in investigating a supply chain of guns and drugs to this area and further afield. Their work is to be commended.”