Nine people allegedly connected to a drug syndicate operating out of Tennant Creek were arrested and charged on Wednesday, NT Police said, as part of an operation to disrupt the supply of commercial cannabis in the Barkly region.

Six men and three women, aged between 26 and 62, were arrested by detectives from the Tennant Creek Investigation Unit in Alice Springs.

Police said the investigation into the drug syndicate spanned three and a half months and led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the nine suspects who allegedly supplied more than 21kgs of cannabis over the last 12 months to the Barkly community.

The offenders have been charged with one count each of supplying commercial cannabis, possessing commercial cannabis and possessing tainted property, and have been remanded to appear before the Alice Springs Local Court.

Police allege the group also made more than half a million dollars in profits during the operation.

“Police continue to have a zero-tolerance to organised crime anywhere in the Northern Territory,” said Detective Sergeant Marek Hutchinson-Goncz.

“We will continue to actively pursue those who choose to profit off of vulnerable members in our communities.”

The arrest is being touted as a significant step to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs across the Barkly region.