SYDNEY, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in Sydney have charged eight people after seizing large quantities of prohibited drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, from properties across the city.

The police force in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement on Thursday that officers attached to a strike force investigating the supply of prohibited drugs in Sydney on Wednesday executed search warrants at eight properties.

During the searches, police allegedly located and seized over 25 kg of ketamine, 17 kg of cannabis, 2.5 kg of cocaine, 3.5 kg of MDMA, 5.6 kg of the pharmaceutical drug diazepam, as well as smaller quantities of methamphetamine and psilocybin and over 18,000 tablets believed to contain LSD.

The NSW Police Force said that the seized drugs had a value of more than 5.5 million Australian dollars (3.9 million U.S. dollars).

In addition to the drugs, strike force officers seized 298,000 AUD (210,064 USD) in cash, firearm parts and equipment used in the manufacture of prohibited drugs.

Eight people were arrested during the searches.

Two men, aged 33 and 45, and a 28-year-old woman were charged with 28 counts of supplying prohibited drugs in large commercial quantities, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The remaining five people, two women and three men, ranging in age from 37 to 61, were charged with lesser offenses relating to the possession and supply of drugs and participating in a criminal group.

Police said that investigations under the strike force are ongoing. ■