OTTAWA, Canada -- Several people are under arrest and nearly $4.5 million in illegal drugs were confiscated after Canadian and American authorities concluded an 18-month-long drug investigation.

The sting involved both national and local police agencies from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ottawa Police Service and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Multi-Million Dollar Drug Ring Busted In International Effort

Directors called the massive operation Project Scarecrow.

Much of the operation centered on the towns of Alexandria and Akwesasne. Officers said that the Akwesasne Mohawk Police assisted in the investigation.

The sting ended with a total of 230 charges brought against several people. Charges include conspiracy to produce and traffic controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking, participating in a criminal organization and laundering proceeds of crime

Agents began their investigation back in April 2007 with the Ottawa-based Asian Organized Crime Group. Police said that the suspects were producing large amounts of marijuana with the intention of trafficking it through the Ottawa area and into the United States of America.

In January 2008, DEA agents discovered that part of the operation was routed through the Akwesasne Mohawk community. The DEA had dismantled the organization by August 2008 and provided evidence that the group conspired to import more than 200 pounds of Canadian marijuana.

Agents said that the organization was also involve din money-laundering schemes that had proceeds transferred between the United States, Canada, and Vietnam. Many of the people police arrested were Vietnamese nationals.

“The success of Project Scarecrow has put a sizeable dent at the production and distribution levels of the drug trade in Ottawa," Ottawa Police Service Superintendent Tim Armour said.

The agencies are still looking for more people wanted in connection with the organization.