Police say they expect to make further arrests as investigations continue after five men were charged over their alleged involvement in the supply of cocaine in the New South Wales Riverina.
Officers from the Murrumbidgee Police District made the first arrest around midday on Thursday during an alleged drug deal on the Kidman Way at Griffith.
A 24-year-old Narrandera man was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, six counts of supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of ongoing supply.
Soon after, officers searched two homes in Griffith and Narrandera and arrested four men — a 20-year-old from Hanwood, two, aged 19 and 27, from Leeton, and a 26-year-old from Griffith.
Police will allege they found cocaine, methylamphetamine, cannabis, cash, firearms and imitation firearms.
The men aged 19, 20 and 27 were charged with supplying a prohibited drug, while the 26-year-old Griffith man was charged with possessing a prohibited firearm, not keeping a firearm safely and possessing a prohibited drug.
'Devastating effects'
District crime manager Detective Inspector Eugene Stek said police would allege that just under 300 grams of cocaine were seized, with a street value of around $70,000.
"The supply of drugs in regional towns has a major impact on the community and it simply won't be tolerated," he said.
"We take that behaviour very seriously. It does nothing to improve the quality of life of individuals, of their families.
"It has devastating effects."
He said the investigation was ongoing and more arrests were expected.
The five men will face court on different dates over the next month.
