THREE men are facing court following the discovery of the largest illegal controlled and prescription drug distribution network ever identified in the ACT and Victoria.

Police seized millions of dollars worth of unprecedented quantities of controlled drugs as well as about $200,000 in cash, a house, five vehicles, three motorcycles and designer goods in simultaneous drug raids across the ACT and interstate on Friday.

Police say that in August a joint investigation with Victoria Police set out to identify and disrupt a criminal group allegedly distributing significant quantities of controlled and prescription drugs including Xanax, Valium, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, clenbuterol, THC gummies and psilocybin chocolates.

On Friday, simultaneous search warrants were executed in the ACT region and in Melbourne.

A 38-year-old man was arrested in O’Connor and a 27-year-old man was arrested at a home in Gordon. Police say both face more than 20 drug charges. The 38-year-old has also been charged with weapon possession.

A 39-year-old Googong man was arrested by NSW Police and will be extradited to the ACT to face 40 drug and criminal charges.

Police allege the three men were sourcing significant commercial quantities of  drugs and then operating a sophisticated marketing, sale and distribution network for individual buyers. The buyers were located across Australia and the group, operating online under the OzPharmLabs name, allegedly distributed their products via the postal system.

Police expect to lay additional charges against all three men once the drug seizures are fully collated and forensic examination of digital items is concluded.

Insp Mark Steel said this cross-border group were likely responsible for a significant portion of the illegal prescription drug market in Australia.

“These three men were allegedly running a sophisticated, co-ordinated and deliberate illegal business with the sole goal of illicit profit,” he said.