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NSW Police say that Taskforce Erebus raids in Sydney are aimed at an alleged crime ring.
Pictures have come out of dawn raids that police said "smashed" a drug ring they think was run by the Alameddine family.
During coordinated raids across Sydney on Tuesday, NSW Police say they "smashed" what they think was a drug operation linked to the Alameddine family.
Erebus, which works to stop gangs, did dawn raids where 18 men between the ages of 19 and 39 were arrested.
From 6 a.m., about 450 police officers carried out 29 search warrants all over the city. A number of people will be facing "significant charges," officials said.
The charges will include having guns and a large amount of drugs for sale.
"We think we've had a big effect on the Alameddine organized crime network," said Michael Fitzgerald, assistant commissioner of the NSW Police.
"That part of the drug trade has been taken down today."
Karen Webb, who is in charge of the police, said that the raids "cut the head off the snake" of the alleged crime network.
She said, "Today, we broke up a group of criminals who were working together. I'm sure we've cut off the head of the snake."
"Everyone in the gang has been arrested, even the top members."
Police said they will say that some of the people they arrested ran "dial-a-dealer" phones that sold more than $250,000 worth of drugs every week.
Investigators think that in the past few years, several people may have been killed because of fights over who should own the valuable phones.
Mr. Fitzgerald said, "These phones make so much money."
"In the near future, we'll say that these phones were part of a competition and that people tried to steal and take control of them. As a result, we think that these phones are directly linked to a number of murders."
Michael Fitzgerald, an assistant commissioner in NSW, said that a major drug ring had been targeted.
Police said that people would call the phones and ask for drugs. Those people were allegedly offered a "smorgasbord" of drugs, including cocaine, prescription pills, MDMA, and cannabis.
A 10-month investigation led to the raids in places like Guildford, Merrylands, Chester Hill, South Granville, Casula, Yagoona, and Wentworthville.
Police said they took more than $250,000 in cash, illegal weapons and drugs, cars, and jewelry.