Officers searched two homes in Albury and Wodonga and took two people into custody on Dean Street on Wednesday.

The Albury drug unit had been covertly monitoring members of an alleged drug syndicate as part of Strike Force Palena and executed the warrants with help from Wodonga police about 11am.

A man and woman were taken into custody at a Kurrajong Crescent home following the arrest of the two men on Dean Street.

Wodonga officers searched a home on Nightingale Avenue.

It’s alleged about 10 ounces of ice – nearly 300 grams – were found at the Albury home.

It followed the seizure of about half a kilogram of high purity ice as part of the operation in recent months.

Cash, cocaine, scales, deal bags, a handbag worth about $16,000, and other items were seized.

Five people were taken into custody.

Police believe four of those arrested were allegedly linked to the syndicate, and are investigating the possible involvement of the fifth person.

Detective Inspector Winston Woodward said police had been “watching their every move for the last three months”.

“If you’re going to peddle your poison, just expect that the detectives won’t be far behind you,” he said. 

Detective Inspector Woodward said information from the public had led to the operation and Wednesday’s search warrant. 

Those arrested were men aged 45, 46, and 49, and women aged 24 and 35, from Albury and Wodonga. 

Detective Inspector Woodward said charges were likely to include large commercial drug supply. 

He described the purity of the drugs as “quite high”. 

Those arrested were likely to face Albury Local Court on Thursday, he said. 

Police are confident they have caught the main players in the syndicate but have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests. 

“It’s the information from the public that put us on the right path,” he said. 

“I can only say again, thanks to the members of the public, it’s the information you supply that enables the detectives to be able to do their job.”