FIVE alleged drug suppliers, who police had their eyes on for more than five months, were finally nabbed on the streets of Nimbin yesterday.

While a police search in Cullen St was nothing new to the small crowd of unfazed bystanders, yesterday’s arrests were based on months of gathered intelligence rather than a simple stroll down the street.

The usual suspects – curious locals and members of Nimbin’s Polite Force – watched as plain-clothed and uniform police searched the offenders before loading them into the back of a paddy wagon.

Most of those people targeted were on the street near the infamous Laneway, although one man was in the shower at a Cullen St residence when police walked in.

Two Nimbin women, aged 45 and 44, and two Nimbin men, 44 and 43, were arrested and transported to Lismore Police Station.

A 47-year-old Larnook man was also arrested and taken to the station.

They were charged with various offences, including supply and possession of prohibited drugs.

They were granted conditional bail to appear in Lismore Local Court on May 2.

Some of those arrested allegedly had drugs in their possession at the time, including cannabis leaf and cookies, which were seized by police.

The arrests were part of the ongoing Operation Hurry, which was established in December to investigate people involved in the supply of drugs to tourists and backpackers visiting Nimbin.

Richmond Local Area Command crime manager, Detective Acting Inspector Matt Kehoe, said further arrests were expected in the coming days and weeks.

“This was an ongoing invest-igation for five months and this was part of the arrest phase for that,” Det Acting Insp Kehoe said.

“We have arrested five people today and a number of other arrests will take place over the coming days or weeks. The people arrested were arrested for street level supply of drugs in the Nimbin area.

“This was a significant arrest and tells the people doing it that the police will be looking at them and not only the people that were arrested today but others who we will be visiting over the coming days and weeks.”

Magic mushrooms, cannabis, cannabis cookies, LSD and MDMA were among the items seized.

Despite the local arrests, Det Acting Insp Kehoe said the locals were not entirely to blame.

“Nimbin attracts a large volume of backpackers and tourists year round looking to experience the alternative lifestyle,” he said.

“However, there is a small minority of people in the township allegedly actively in the drug trade.

“Selling or buying illicit drugs is illegal and will not be tolerated and the community can be assured that police will continue to run similar drug operations in Nimbin indefinitely.”