Police have arrested and charged three people in what has been described as Australia’s largest-ever investigation into drug dealing over the dark web.

Detectives from Strike Force Royden – compromising of a specialist team of technology experts – yesterday executed five search warrants to take down three people allegedly involved in selling drugs over the dark web and posting them across the country.

Three people, including a 25-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman, were arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station on NSW’s south coast to be charged.

Police will allege in court that a 25-year-old man was operating a vast network as an online drug vendor on the dark web. (NSW Police)

Police will allege in court that the man was operating a vast network of online stores on the dark web, selling prohibited drugs and medications.

The two women allegedly assisted the man by packaging the drugs and posting them across the country in disguised Australia Post satchels.

Luxury vehicles, including a black Mercedes Benz and a BMW, were seized as part of the search warrant along with a number of electronic items.

Police forensically examined a number of different mail items to locate and identify the drugs. (NSW Police)

A number of Australia Post satchels were seized as part of the search warrants executed by police. (NSW Police)

Stuart Smith, Acting Commander of the State Crime Command, said the investigation that led to the trio’s arrest was prolonged and involved incredibly sophisticated technology.

“We’ve worked diligently for the last nine months,” said Act. Com. Smith.

“A vast amount of illicit and prescription drugs distributed through Australia Post across the nation, including MDMA, LSD, methylamphetamine, Xanax and other prescription drugs.”

Police said several of the drugs seized were disguised as 'candy'. (NSW Police)

Acting Commander Smith believes that yesterday’s arrests mark a turning point in the technological power police now have access to.

“We will allege that this individual has been operating for a number of years,” said Act. Com. Smith.

“This is probably the first and largest penetration of the dark web in Australia, and it’s resulted in taking out a syndicate who have dealt around $17 million worth of drugs around the nation.”

The trio were refused bail.

Accessed using the internet, the “dark web” is a relatively hidden layer of the World Wide Web that can only be accessed by specific software or computer configurations.

Drugs are commonly sold on the dark web, with users paying for items using relatively untraceable payment systems such as cryptocurrency.