Hamilton police say 37 people have been arrested after roughly $32.5 million worth of illicit drugs were seized as well as 28 firearms.

Back in September 2021, police launched Project Suppression following an increase in shootings and gang conflicts in the city.

The project involved multiple units from across the police service and was aimed at holding those responsible for crime accountable as well as targeting illegal firearms.

Throughout the six-month-long investigation, police laid 288 charges and seized a significant amount of drugs, 10 replica firearms, 11 prohibited weapons, five prohibited devices, over 500 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade and roughly $273,000 in cash.

“We continue to see the effect illicit drugs has on all aspects of our society. We know there is the impact on violent crime such as shootings but we also need to be aware of the stark increase in opioid deaths in Hamilton,” said Chief Frank Bergen in a news release.

Police say the estimated street value of the seized drugs is $2.5 million including a significant amount of high purity fentanyl that once prepared for street doses, police say, would have an estimated street value of $30 million.