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. 

“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.

“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.