A dozen people have been arrested following a series of early-morning raids in southern Ontario.

Officers executed 15 search and arrest warrants in St. Catharines, Mississauga and Toronto shortly after midnight on Thursday.

Approximately 110 officers were involved in the raids, from local police forces, the Canada Border Service Agency and Ontario Provincial Police.

The warrants were executed in connection with a drug trafficking investigation dubbed "Project Bluenose," Niagara Regional Police said in a statement. The investigation began in St. Catharines, but officers uncovered evidence of a large cocaine and marijuana trafficking ring with ties to people in Mississauga and Toronto.

As a result of the investigation, 12 people were arrested on Thursday, the statement said. The accused face a total of 45 drug-related charges.

The following items were seized during Project Bluenose:

$75,000 worth of cocaine

$5,000 worth of various other narcotics including MDMA, marijuana, hashish and oxycodone

$70,000 cash

$100,000 in watches and other jewelry.

Five vehicles worth $160,000 including a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle

Niagara police said the investigation is ongoing, and said they believe more charges and arrests will result from Thursday's operation. Anyone with more information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).