In total, police arrested 12 people and seized $15 million dollars in drugs, guns and ammunition, the local haul the second largest in the state.

As part of Strike Force Oceanic, Young police seized around 2750 plants of cannabis uncovered on a rural property at Crowther, half an hour north of town.

Young-based Acting Detective Inspector Damian Nott said local police were critical to the investigation.

"Strike Force Oceanic has been a huge success," he said. "And the detectives and police from Cootamundra LAC have been proud to be part of such a successful operation."

Detective Inspector Nott said combating drug crime was important because of the people it affects directly, but also those it hurts indirectly.

"As a command, we understand that drug crime often underpins and drives other types of crime like break-and-enter and other property crimes," he said.

"And as a result, it's our business to strike at the heart of drug crime, thereby driving down crimes across the board. Sometimes that can mean that we are jointly involved in various investigations such as Strike Force Oceanic."

In 2012, detectives from the Drug Squad and investigators from the far South Coast Local Area Commands formed Strike Force Oceanic to investigate a major drug supply syndicate operating throughout southern NSW.

Detective Inspector Nott said investigating such syndicates required police to fight crime as a network.

"We, as a command, are committed to not only investigations that affect our area directly, but also acting on the big stage as well," he said.

"Given that the criminal networks don't recognise policing boundaires, it's vitally important as a command that we are working with other commands and sections of NSW police to ensure we achieve the best possible results with various investigations that are ongoing."

And it's the hard work that goes into such investigations that often goes unnoticed.

"Sometimes the public may perceive that there's a lack of action by police and think things aren't going as they would expect," Detective Inspector Nott said. "But behind the scenes we are very confined by what we can release in terms of public information in terms of what we're doing and how we're doing it.

"That's why it's important we celebrate the successes in terms of successful operations when they come up.

"Because we're unable to quantify the huge extent of work that sometimes goes into these operations that never becomes public information."

The Commander of the Far South Coast Local Area Command, Superintendent Peter O’Brien, echoed Detective Inspector Nott's views, saying the operation’s success was a result of excellent investigative work from all of the officers involved.

“Local investigators and Drug Squad detectives have worked tirelessly on this case and yesterday’s results are a testament to their remarkable effort,” Superintendent O’Brien said.

“Drugs can not only destroy people’s lives, they can ravage entire communities.

“Anyone who is involved in the production, distribution or sale of illicit drugs deserves to be put behind bars, and we will continue to do everything we can to gets drugs – and the people who deal them – out of our communities.”

Yesterday’s operation involved police from numerous commands across the state including State Crime Command, Southern Region, Central Metro Region, South West Metro Region, Special Services Group, State Protection Group and the Major Events & Incident Group.

Detective Inspector Nott said locals concerned about crime were critical to the success of such operations.

"One of the best ways to identify and investigate drug-related crimes is through the support of the public," he said.

"It should be acknowledged that community support and information is a major reason for the success of these types of operations."

"We've had some excellent results as recently as the last two weeks. We've executed warrants at Nangus and Gundagai and they've yielded amphetamines, firearms, MDMA and cannabis plants.

"And any person with information is urged to contact their local police or anonymously through crime stoppers 1800 333 000."

Young station drug-stuffed

By WAGGA DAILY ADVERTISER

WAGGA magistrate Michael Antrum yesterday refused a police application to destroy 2750 cannabis plants that are taking up a lot of room at the Young police station.

The plants - believed to range in height from 15cm to 70cm - were seized from a rural property at Crowther on Wednesday as part of a major anti-drug operation that included the seizure of 9.5 kilograms of ice near Gundagai.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Kelly Huggett, applied for the drug destruction order on behalf of the State crime command drug squad.

The application was immediately objected to by duty solicitor Zac Tankard representing two men charged with growing the prohibited drug.

“It’s a bit premature,” Mr Tankard said.

Pressing the application, Sergeant Huggett said there was a large amount of drugs at the police station.

She said the cannabis plants had been analysed by an agronomist and found to be cannabis.

“There is no evidentiary gain in retaining the plants,” Sergeant Huggett said.

She said the moment the plants had been picked they began to deteriorate.

Mr Antrum said even so, there could be a contest in the future about the quality, quantity and size of the cannabis.

“I can’t prejudice the defence at this first mention of the matter,” Mr Antrum said before handing down his decision.

“It would be a rash judicial action on the first day; I’m sorry, sergeant, but I just can’t do it.”

Mr Tankard said destroying the cannabis at this stage could be detrimental to the defence case.

Mr Antrum said the agronomist’s opinion was prima facie evidence, but not conclusive evidence.

Drug suspects before Wagga Local Court

By WAGGA DAILY ADVERTISER

THREE men appeared in Wagga Local Court yesterday after police seized $9 million worth of ice at Gundagai and $5.5 million worth of cannabis on a property near Young.

A police anti-drug operation months in the planning and execution culminated in the three south coast men appearing separately in Wagga Local Court for a total of four minutes.

Luigi Gino Fato, 62, of East Lynne, is alleged to have directed a criminal group that included 40-year-old Hank Peter Pickett and 63-year-old John Sidney Finlayson, both of Malua Bay.

All have been charged with drug supply offences as well as being part of a criminal group.

Police said it would be alleged the men were involved in a major drug syndicate producing, distributing and selling commercial quantities of methamphetamine (ice) and cannabis throughout southern NSW.

The trio was stopped and arrested by police at the Dog on the Tuckerbox north of Gundagai about 9am on Wednesday.

It is alleged police found 9.5kg of ice with an estimated street value of $9 million in their vehicle.

Police subsequently executed search warrants at numerous locations around the state and allegedly found 2750 cannabis plants worth $5.5 million on a rural property at Crowther, near Young, and two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder on a property in Wood Road, Yenda.

Raids were also conducted in Sydney and the ACT resulting in the arrest of four other men.

Fato and Pickett were represented in Wagga Local Court yesterday by duty solicitor Zac Tankard, while Finlayson was represented by Canberra solicitor, Kamy Saeedi.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Kelly Huggett, said all three accused men should have their cases adjourned to Batemans Bay Local Court.

None applied for bail, although Mr Saeedi asked for Finlayson to face court again within a week so he can make a bail application then.

Fato and Pickett’s cases were adjourned to Batemans Bay Local Court on February 24, while Finlayson will appear on February 20.

All three will appear in court via audio-visual link with a prison.

Four police officers involved in the drug bust were in court for yesterday’s appearances.

A hard day’s work

STRIKE Force Oceanic was set up to fight a criminal network stretching across the state. Raids were conducted all over the region. Here are some highlights:

A home on the Northern Road in Bringelly, where police seized more than 90,000 rounds of ammunition, seven firearms (two shotguns, four rifles and an air-rifle), and numerous electronic devices.

A rural property in Crowther where officers discovered approximately 2750 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of approximately $5.5 million.

A property on Wood Road in Yenda where police located and seized two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder.

A home in Napoleon Street, Sans Souci, where a hydroponic cannabis set-up and six large cannabis plants were located. A 36-year-old resident of the home was charged with enhanced indoor cultivation (expose child) and given conditional bail to appear in Kogarah Local Court on March 4, 2014.

A property in Palmerston in the ACT where, with the assistance of ACT Police, NSW Police officers arrested a 40-year-old man before charging him with drug supply offences, and for knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. He appeared in Queanbeyan Local Court  on Wednesday, February 13, 2014.

A home in Batemans Bay, where police arrested a 46-year-old man before charging him with drug supply offences, and for participating in a criminal group. He was refused bail to appear in Narooma Local Court today.

A property in the southern Sydney suburb of Miranda, where police arrested and charged a 36-year-old man before charging him with the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial purpose and for drug possession. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on March 13, 2014.

A home on Georges Bass Drive in Malua Bay where police located 163 cannabis plants.

A property on the Princes Highway in East Lynne where police located a hydroponic set-up with 24 cannabis plants and a number of seedlings.

A property on Quort Pot Road in Buckenbowra, where officers located and seized cannabis seeds, ammunition and a loaded rifle.

A property in the suburb of Surfside where police located and seized six cannabis plants.

In addition to drugs, ammunition and weapons, police have also seized a number of vehicles, machines and documents during the search warrants.