Charges have been laid against more than 20 people from across Ontario in connection with a joint investigation into a province-wide drug trafficking network.

The six-month investigation, called Project Lancia, was led by the Durham Regional Police Service in collaboration with several other police forces in Ontario.

Twenty-four search warrants were executed on April 29 at various locations in Peterborough, Toronto, Ancaster, Woodbridge, Caledonia, and Sault Ste. Marie.

Seven additional search warrants were previously executed as part of the project. As a result, police seized $4.5 million worth of drugs and $226,000 in cash, as well as nine firearms and five vehicles.

A total of 23 people were arrested, facing 145 drug and firearm-related offences.

The majority of the suspects are from the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, North York, Markham, and Peterborough.