An Ontario Provincial Police-led investigation into drug smuggling has resulted in 29 arrests from across the province, including seven in Toronto.
 
Police carried out raids in locations ranging from Owen Sound on Georgian Bay to Prince Edward County on Lake Ontario with co-operation from U.S. authorities.

"Organized crime knows no boundaries and respects no jurisdictions," OPP Deputy Commissioner Scott Todd told a news conference in Mississauga on Thursday.

The investigation began in the spring of 2009 as "Project Longarm." OPP and Belleville police were looking into to a group allegedly involved in smuggling in eastern Ontario. 

The OPP then launched "Project Needham" after investigators in the force's western region allegedly detected activity by the same group.

"Project Needham targeted a criminal organization that is engaged in the large-scale production, trafficking and export of MDMA (Ecstasy) and marijuana as well as the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine," police alleged in a statement released Thursday.

 Authorities believe the group imported and exported drugs, using boats to cross Lake Ontario and Lake Huron.

Police carried out raids on Wednesday. They executed 34 search warrants on residences and businesses in the following locations:

  • Toronto
  • Peel region
  • York region
  • Owen Sound
  • Meaford
  • Paisley
  • Walkerton
  • Quinte West
  • Belleville
  • Prince Edward County

"They orchestrated this in a very short period of time," OPP Insp. Ian Grant said about the raids. "We had in excess of 300 officers from the various agencies fan out across Ontario."

A total of eight different law enforcement agencies and groups were involved in the investigation. They also worked with four different U.S. agencies.

Police say they seized:

  • 52 kilograms of ecstasy
  • 55 kg of marijuana
  • two drug labs
  • $500,000 in cash
  • weapons
  • property allegedly obtained by crime, including vehicles, diamonds and jewelry

Police say the investigation is continuing and more charges are pending.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Michelle Dube