Eight people have been arrested and $17 million in drugs were seized in a massive operation across Ontario, Toronto police announced Thursday.

An investigation, dubbed “Project Dos,” led to 29 search warrants executed at residences, vehicles and storage lockers in Toronto, Vaughan, Kitchener, and Stoney Creek, police said.

The seized items — including powder cocaine, illegally grown cannabis, cash, and chemicals used in the production and distribution of controlled substances — were on display at the news conference.

At one home, police seized 700 kilograms of ephedrine, the primary ingredient used to make crystal methamphetamine, worth up to $2.1 million.

Insp. Don Belanger said this was the largest ever seizure of ephedrine by Toronto police he was aware of.

“It’s likely the largest seizure in Canada by a police service,” Belanger told reporters.

A cannabis grow operation in Kitchener was among the locations raided.

Although the operator had a licence from Health Canada to grow medicinal marijuana, police allege the allowable growth limit was exceeded by 3,905 plants, which can produce profits close to $10 million.

Police also seized 32 kg of dried and packaged marijuana that could generate profits of up to $2.3 million.

Other items seized included 20 kg of phenacetin, commonly used as an additive to cocaine, as well as smaller quantities of ketamine and crystal methamphetamine and $308,000 in cash that police believe are proceeds from illegal drug sales.

The seizure was done in conjunction with the Canada Border Services agency, the OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team, the Waterloo Regional Police Service, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

“Results like these do not come easy and they require commitment and dedication and involve hundreds of hours of work, some of it mundane and other times very dangerous and high risks for our members,” Supt. Steve Watts told reporters.

Duc Duy Pham, 32; Quoc Pham, 38; Thi Thuy Van Nguyen, 33; Mario Palermo, 19; Ai He, 32; Ryan Yetman, 26; and Amanda King, 32, all of Toronto; and Hung Phi Nguyen, 34, of Stoney Creek; all face drug-related charges.

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With files from Temur Durrani