RAIDS CRACK MAJOR HEROIN NETWORK

Detectives have cracked one of the biggest heroin distribution networks in
Sydney after a series of raids and at least 15 arrests yesterday afternoon.

At 1.10pm in simultaneous swoops, 40 police and State Protection Group
officers sledge-hammered their way into three premises in the inner city.

The biggest bust was at a 19th floor unit in the plush Hyde Park Towers in
Elizabeth St where 10 men, police would only describe as Asian and aged in
their mid 20s, were caught with a quantity of heroin and amphetamines.

Two other men jumped about 20m off a balcony on to the roof of the
neighbouring Salvation Army headquarters, breaking numerous bones.

They were under guard at St Vincent's Hospital last night.

Another man climbed on to an 18th floor unit to get away but was arrested.
Two men from other premises were also arrested with one charged early in the
afternoon.

The Immigration Department is checking whether any of the men were illegal
immigrants.

The arrests came a day after Justice Minister Amanda Vanstone attacked NSW
police for having a "completely unsatisfactory" record in catching drug dealers.

Police were last night going through the two-bedroom unit, and were yet to
weigh the large amount of drugs, believed to be heroin and "ice", amphetamines.

A large amount of money was also seized. Most of the men are expected to
appear in Central Local Court this morning.

Yesterday's dramatic raids, codenamed Operation Nervesa, followed two weeks
of intensive surveillance and undercover work.

The operation was sparked by intelligence gathered from two men whom police
said had been acting suspiciously on a city street arrested more than two
weeks ago.

City of Sydney Local Area Commander Superintendent Donald Graham said
investigations into the alleged drug network were far from over.

"We believe this is a major drug operation in the city and the fringes, it
was brazen and well organised, well structured," he said.

"We believe we have taken out a major drug network; it has the potential to
be one of the biggest."

Supt Graham conceded police had expected to find more drugs.

"But we certainly haven't finished, it is a major focus and we'll see what
we get from this," he said.