ROGER Rogerson has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Jamie Gao. 

The announcement was made late this afternoon along with confirmation from NSW Police that the body discovered in waters off Cronulla yesterday was that of the missing university student.

Rogerson, 73, was arrested in dramatic scenes outside his Padstow home this morning.

His solicitor slammed the highly publicised arrest as "disgraceful" but detectives defended the decision to swoop on

Rogerson's home on the grounds they were "not satisfied" with the arrangements being made by his legal team.

Police believe Mr Gao was killed during a botched, $3million drug deal, at Padstow last Tuesday

Former Kings Cross Detective Glen McNamara is already before the courts charged with murder and commercial drug supply.

Rogerson, who was dismissed from the NSW Police Force in the early 80s, is expected to front the Bankstown court later today.