A massive series of raids that pulled in more than $1 million worth of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy off the streets was lauded as a significant blow to the drug trade in southern Ontario on Thursday, but investigators said they were realistic about the effects it will have in the long run.

"I am realistic that it will have a short-term impact and other folks will fill the void. That is the nature of this drug business; someone is always willing to take the risk and step in," Staff Insp. Randy Franks said during a press conference on Thursday.

"But for the time being we have made a significant dent to this group."

More than two dozen people were arrested on Wednesday as police executed morning raids across Toronto, York and Durham in the culmination of "Project Decepticon," a months-long investigation into the illicit sale and distribution of drugs.

Twenty-six search warrants were executed on homes and businesses across the Toronto area, including York, Durham, Belleville, and Hamilton.

"It was across the city and outside of the city as well," Franks said. "It wasn't focused in any particular community or neighbourhood."

Police allege that the following was seized during the raids:

  • approximately 23,330 ecstasy pills valued at $466,600
  • approximately 28 grams of crack cocaine valued at $1,500
  • approximately 54 grams of powder cocaine valued at $5,940
  • approximately 230 grams of hashish valued at $5,750
  • approximately 86 lbs. of marijuana valued at $343,000.

Police say that two active marijuana grow operations were also dismantled during the raids, resulting in the seizure of 607 marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of $607,000.

Police also seized more than $100,000 in Canadian currency, some $5,000 in U.S. currency and two handguns.

Six vehicles were seized as offence-related property in Project Decepticon.

"Decepticon" is the name of the villainous robots from the Transformers cartoons and movie series. Police said the name is a reference to the Transformers logo, which was found stamped on ecstasy pills seized early in the investigation.

During the press conference on Thursday, Franks outlined how a simple street-level drug bust in Scarborough grew in size and scope to encompass as many as six independent drug rings.

Franks said Toronto Police Service's Drug Squad linked one group of drug dealers to others across the region, who would allegedly rely on one another when their supplies of narcotics ran low.

"We usually focus on the smaller cells. We don't usually see the co-operation … among these various groups," Franks said. "These are probably a number of different cells on their own. In this investigation the investigators were savvy enough to connect them."

Thirty-four men and women between the ages of 18 and 55 have been charged with a litany of drug possession- and trafficking-related offences, as well as various weapons offences.