RCMP in two provinces have seized more than $232,000 in cash, nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana and 14 vehicles after a huge drug bust following an extensive investigation.

Operation Hagrid was a five-month investigation targeting a suspected drug trafficking network between the Vancouver area and Eastern and Atlantic Canada including:

Toronto

Montreal

Halifax

St. John's

Investigators found that people were taking commercial flights and transporting large quantities of marijuana and cash in checked bags.

"These individuals had an established network operating a sophisticated drug distribution chain that has ties to organized crime," Nova Scotia RCMP Insp. Mike Payne in a news release.

"Investigators have disrupted this network and as a result of today's arrests, we have ended their activities."

On Wednesday, officers from the RCMP Federal and Serious Organized Crime Unit searched six homes in the Halifax Regional Municipality and eight homes in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia.

Seven men were arrested in the Lower Mainland area; five men and one woman were arrested in the greater Halifax area.

Payne told reporters that the smugglers were taking between 14 kilograms and 23 kilograms of marijuana in one checked bag at a time.

He said he's worked in drug enforcement for several years and has never seen anything like it.

Payne also said several of the accused have links to organized crime, but police were unable to "uncover sufficient evidence to lay charges involving organized crime."

Police also seized a "large number of personal electronic devices" and evidence recovered could lead to additional charges, said Payne.

Slew of charges laid

The accused are facing a slew of charges including conspiracy to traffic marijuana, trafficking marijuana, and money laundering.

The following items were seized in Nova Scotia on Wednesday:

Over $17,000 in cash with more seized and still being counted.

Weapons — a Taser and 16 firearms.

Various types of ammunition.

Over 32 kilograms of marijuana.

Small quantity of hash oil.

Money counter machines.

Drug paraphernalia, including numerous sets of scales and vacuum sealers.

Three vehicles.

The searches in B.C led to the following seizures:

More than $100,000 in cash.

Weapons including a carbine assault weapon, loaded shotgun and handgun.

Over 45 kilograms of marihuana.

296 marijuana plants.

14 kilograms of shatter.

Small quantity of Oxycontin pills.

Over one kilogram of cocaine.

Brass knuckles.

Two prohibited swords.

Drug paraphernalia, including numerous sets of scales and vacuum sealers.

Money counter machines.

11 high-end vehicles.

A suitcase full of marijuana seized during Operation Hagrid. (RCMP)

"This cooperative effort with the criminal intelligence section of B.C. and RCMP federal investigators in Nova Scotia is an excellent example of the success which can be generated through cooperative enforcement efforts and effective intelligence sharing," said RCMP Insp. Mike Carlson.

In terms of the unusual operation name, "Hagrid," Payne said it likely has nothing to do with the Harry Potter character of the same name.

"I'm not privy to how project names are selected but I can tell you ... it means nothing in relation to the investigation. The word Hagrid — it's just a name for the project."