Luke Fitzgerald, David White among five charged in alleged Riverina drug supply operation

Video has captured the moment heavily-armed police piled out of an unmarked van before crash tackling three alleged drug dealers in dramatic scenes.

Bush cops crash tackled alleged drug suppliers into the red dirt of the Riverina region in a series of dramatic arrests on Tuesday.

Detectives from Strike Force Currandooley, established to investigate the commercial of cannabis and ice in Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera, arrested five men on Tuesday.

Heavily protected police arrested three men at the Beelbangera rural fire brigade station.

Five men have been charged as part of investigations into an alleged large-scale drug supply operation in the state’s Riverina region. Picture: NSW Police

The police jumped out of the back of a truck before grabbing the men and throwing them to the ground. Officers piled on the men before handcuffing them.

Police searched cars nearby finding thousands of dollars of cash, drugs and scales.

The three men, aged 48, 49 and 54, were taken to Griffith Police Station before being charged with serious drug offences.

Strike force investigators then executed two search warrants at Narrandera where two men, aged 39 and 43, were arrested.

They were taken to Narrandera Police Station where they were also charged with serious drug offences.

Four of the men were kept behind bars overnight and were expected to front Griffith and Wagga local courts on Wednesday.

The fifth man, aged 54, was granted bail and will front Griffith Local Court in January.

Luke Charles Fitzgerald, 43, applied for bail at Wagga Local Court on Wednesday after he was charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

Police will allege on November 19, Fitzgerald took part in the supply of 60.14 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $22,000.

Strike Force Currandooley was established to investigate the commercial supply of drugs in the Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera townships. Picture: NSW Police

It’s also alleged, Fitzgerald took part in the supply of 58.64 grams methamphetamine in exchange for $23,000 the next day.

The court heard Fitzgerald had lived in Narrandera most of his life and had a wife and three children.

Fitzgerald’s lawyer told the court he was a carpenter by trade and ran his own business which employees three people.

The prosecution told the court if Fitzgerald was found guilty, it was likely he would serve a custodial sentence.

Magistrate Halburd granted Fitzgerald strict conditional bail.

Under the conditions, Fitzgerald has a 10pm curfew, must not go near co-accused David White, and his mother must forfeit $10,000.

Five men were charged as part of an alleged Riverina drug syndicate. Picture: NSW Police

David Charles White, 39, also appeared in Wagga Local Court, where he pleaded guilty to two of three charges of supplying a prohibited drug.

White pleaded guilty to exchanging 58.64 grams of Ice for $23,000 and guilty to supplying 60.14 grams of ice for $22,000 on two separate occasions last month in Narrendera.

However, he pleaded not guilty to supplying four ounces, 96.7 grams of ice in exchange for $40,000 on December 1, in Narrendera.

He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. He will face court on February 3.

Murrumbidgee Police District Commander Craig Ireland, said the arrests were the culmination of a month of investigations by local detectives.

“The hard work and dedication of our officers has led to the arrest and charge of five people for drug offences,” Supt Ireland said.

“Ice is a poison and it has the potential to destroy communities – I want to reinforce the message that supplying drugs will not be tolerated in our community.

“We will continue to dismantle criminal networks operating in our region, even if we have to do it one by one,” Supt Ireland said.