Nine Australians arrested over 75,000 U.S. dollar worth of "ice" drug

Australian police have arrested nine people and seized 75,000 U.S. dollars worth of methylamphetamine in a two-day cross border operation.

New South Wales (NSW) police said in a statement Friday that the raid was jointly undertaken along with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) police in Queanbeyan, a city located in the south of NSW.

The seven men and two women were arrested under Strike Force Lupo, an operation established in May by detectives from the Monaro Local Area Command to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in Queanbeyan and the ACT.

Monaro Local Area Command Crime Manager and Detective Chief Inspector Neil Grey said the police have arrested nine people who have been charged with more than 50 offences as a result of the Strike Force Lupo operation.

"During the operation, police seized more than 400 grams of methylamphetamine with an estimated potential street value of 100,000 Australian dollars (75,000 thousand U.S. dollars), two electronic control devices, two replica firearms, an extendable baton, drug paraphernalia and electronic equipment believed to be associated with the supply of prohibited drugs," Grey said.

"We will continue to target the supply, distribution, cultivation and manufacture of prohibited drugs to keep them off the streets," he said.

All nine are expected to face drug related charges on different dates at the Queanbeyan Local Court in October. Endit