Neighbors have described the grim reality of living in a notorious South West Sydney apartment block where five people were arrested in a major police operation – as the local nickname ‘Ice Block’ is revealed.

Dozens of heavily armed NSW police officers descended on the blond brick block of social housing flats on Charles Street in Liverpool in the early hours of Monday morning.

A woman was arrested as she left the building at around 2:15 a.m., while two more women and two men were detained. There are no reports of injuries.

Later that morning, residents outside the complex described noisy parties being held in the unit, which is located near common areas littered with discarded trolleys and dumped trash.

Residents noted that the complex has a bloody past: Late last year, a man in his 20s was shot in the compound’s driveway.

A neighbor said the blonde brick units used to be a nice place to live until they were converted into social housing a few years ago

A neighbor claimed: ‘There are a lot of people in these blocks who use drugs and sell drugs’

A large red chemical drum and piles of clothing were seen scattered across the derelict unit’s balcony on Monday. The inhabitants used the drum as a container

Heavily armed tactical police officers arrived on Charles Street in Liverpool in the early hours of Monday morning after residents reported hearing a gunshot

Jin Shin, who lives next to the unit where police raided on Monday, said a man and a woman entered the apartment several months ago.

Since then, Mr. Shin said he had trouble falling asleep because of the incessant music blaring from the venue.

“There were a lot of parties, 20 people coming and going all the time,” said Mr. Shin.

“One time when I knocked on the door to complain, they got aggressive. The police always knocked on the door there.’

A woman who lives on a nearby block said her neighbor heard a loud bang in the early hours of the morning.

She said the units used to be a nice place to live until they were converted to public housing a few years ago.

“There are a lot of people in these blocks who use and sell drugs,” the woman said.

“I know there were people on that block selling drugs because people on my block went there to buy them.

“Cars pull up and you can see them handing over the drugs and money. I wish the police would do more to stop them. It is scary.’

Another resident, who declined to be named, said two of the apartment blocks in the housing complex were notorious for using ice and heroin.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that all residents are using or selling drugs, only that neighbors believe illegal behavior is taking place in the building.

The unit’s block has been closed off to the public, and specialist police officers and negotiators have also been called in. Police were photographed at the complex on Monday morning

Jin Shin, who lives next door, said a man and a woman entered the unit several months ago that police raided Monday morning. Mr. Shin is in the picture

Detectives saw a white truck searching the driveway on Monday morning

A police officer puts an evidence seal on the door of a truck near the apartment building on Monday

Pictured shows police talking to residents in the same residential block in Liverpool in October 2022 after a man was shot in the driveway

Mr. Shin said there had been a shooting in the driveway just six months ago.

“The man was shot in the legs, he ran bleeding into our building and collapsed on the floor,” he said.

On that occasion, at about 6:20 a.m. on 12 October, a man in his twenties was shot and taken to Liverpool hospital.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that the October 2022 shooting is related to the current police operation.

The unit’s block has been closed off to the public, and specialist police officers and negotiators have also been called in.

The five detainees were taken to Liverpool Police Station, where police vehicles left the street at around 5:40 am.

NSW Police said a crime scene warrant would be carried out with detectives to continue the investigation.

Detectives were searching a white truck parked in the driveway Monday morning.

The vehicle was later marked with a ‘forensic evidence’ sticker before being towed from the crime scene.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Liverpool Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A detective carried brown paper evidence bags out of the building after five people were arrested at the scene

The white truck was later towed away for further investigation