Seven people will face court following a six-month interstate investigation into a cocaine and ecstasy supply syndicate allegedly involving former NRL star Michael Gordon.
Police fear the trafficking racket was targeted at schoolies celebrations.
Five men and one woman were taken into custody following raids at nine properties on the NSW far north coast and southeast Queensland on Saturday morning.
Among them, Gordon, 37, was, within hours, released from his role "providing specialist coaching services" to the NRL's Gold Coast Titans.
The former Penrith, Parramatta and Roosters fullback and winger had been employed by the club since retiring as a player last season.
Police said Strike Force Caved investigators also seized steroids, more than $60,000 in cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia during the raids.
Tweed-Byron Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cullen said on Sunday the arrests had come at a crucial time, with thousands of school leavers arriving in the area.
"Byron Bay is one of the busiest places on the east coast of Australia right now, with thousands of schoolies expected to fill coastal towns during the coming weeks," he said.
"These drugs were bound for our streets and these arrests will have significantly disrupted the supply chain into the schoolies areas."
Those arrested include a 21-year-old man taken into custody on the Gold Coast, with detectives due to seek his extradition to NSW on Monday.
A 31-year-old man apprehended at Miami in Queensland is similarly subject to an interstate application.
A 22-year-old man arrested at a home south of Tweed Heads has been charged with 20 offences including drug supply and participating in a criminal group. He has been refused bail to appear in Lismore Local Court.
A 20-year-old woman and man, 21, are accused of drug supply and participating in a criminal group and are due to face Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday.
Two men aged 37 and 20 accused of drug supply and possession offences will appear in the same court in December.
Police will allege the syndicate was operating across the border.
Australian Associated Press
