There were 12 simultaneous search warrants across the South Coast and Sydney as part of a lengthy drug-supply investigation.

Officers from the Shoalhaven and Far South Coast Local Area Commands teamed up to form Strike Force Idlewild in December last year to proactively investigate drug supply across the two commands.

About 7.20am on Tuesday, Strike Force Idlewild investigators, along with officers from the State Protection Group’s Tactical Operations Unit, intercepted what was believed to be a drug transaction in the public car park of the Kendall Cottage Rotary Park, Ulladulla.

Two men were arrested who police will allege in court were in possession of 58 grams of cocaine and 175 grams of methyl-amphetamine.

Shortly after 9am, officers attached to Strike Force Idlewild executed nine search warrants; Five within the Shoalhaven Local Area Command (at Ulladulla, Burrill Lake and Worrigee), and four in the Far South Coast Local Area Command (Batemans Bay, Moruya, Surfside and Catalina).

Officers from State Crime Command’s Strike Force Raptor also assisted in executing three warrants in Sydney at Prospect, Elizabeth Hills, and Hoxton Park.

As a result of these warrants, currently 10 people have been arrested.

Charges are expected and further arrests are anticipated over coming days and weeks.

11.30am: Ten people have been arrested and nine search warrants executed in a police operation on the Far South Coast on Tuesday. 

Cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and pills with a street value or more than half-a-million dollars have been seized as part of co-ordinated raids in Moruya, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Nowra. 

Three search warrants were also executed in Sydney as part of the operation. 

Assistant Commissioner Gary Worboys said Strike Force Idlewild involving up to 100 police took part in the raids, which had been planned for months. 

Video: Ron Aggs Milton Ulladulla Times

“Today here at Batemans Bay I am pleased to announce that the strike force has come to a conclusion. Already we have seen the arrest of 10 people in this local area and up to nine search warrants.

Video: Emily Barton Batemans Bay Post

“In those search warrants, we have seized drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine, and I would expect arrests will continue on today and more information will also see a number of people arrested over the coming weeks.”

Mr Worboys said almost half a million dollars of illicit drugs had already been seized and expected that number could increase over the next few days.

 “Police acted on information from a number of community sources and have worked that information up to what has been a substantial effort today and the results are outstanding. 

“Visiting police from our tactical operations units, the dog unit and also local police from right across the region assisted in this operation that was run from Batemans Bay.”

Mr Worboys hoped the arrests would send a clear message to the community. 

“We would hope that this will make a huge impact here in Batemans Bay and send a very clear message to people that drugs wont be tolerated here,” he said. 

“I would urge anyone to report anything to local police or crime stoppers and something will be done about it.”

11.06am: Police have told Fairfax Media drugs with an estimated street value of half a million dollars have been seized in raids across the South and Far South Coast this morning.

Assistant Commissioner Gary Worboys said the raids had been planned for months and a clear message had been sent to Sydney drug suppliers selling drugs such as methamphetamine in rural areas.

He said about 100 police were involved with the raids.

10am: Shots have been fired during a major drug operation underway in Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Moruya and three in Western Sydney.

The Police Tactical Response Group swooped on Ulladulla early this morning.

Reports that gunshots were fired during the operation have been confirmed. It is understood these were tactical not live rounds.

Nine search warrants are being executed.

We will have more details as they come to hand. We expect comprehensive details following a police briefing at 11am.