Australian police said that they had concluded an operation across the country aimed at tackling illegal drug trafficking and organized crime, with more than 1,600 people arrested.

The operation from August 19 to August 23 also involved police from regional neighbour New Zealand.

In a joint statement, the participating police forces and authorities said the prevalence of illicit drugs in society translates into road trauma, family violence, homicides, shootings and other violent offending.

Police said they had made 1,611 drug-related arrests and laid 2,962 drug-related charges during the nationwide action. 

Almost 1,400 kilogram of illicit drugs and more than 2,500 cannabis plants were seized, they said, worth in the region of 63 million dollars street value in total.

Altogether 71 guns were seized, along with more than 2.2 million Australian dollars in cash.