Provincial police launched raids Wednesday morning against a wide-ranging drug production and smuggling operation based in Southern Quebec.

Officers from half a dozen agencies, including the Surete du Quebec, the RCMP, Laval police, Repentigny police, Terrebonne police and L'Assomption/Saint Sulpice started making arrests at 5:30 a.m.

By 9 a.m. they had arrested 23 people, and were still looking for five more suspects.

Operation "Matamore" began in 2009, and stepped up in June of this year when police dismantled a methamphetamine lab in Granby.

That led police to other members of a crime ring, with ties to the Mafia and street gangs, that were allegedly planning to import 1,200 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico and Peru.

Police say the criminals were operating in Montreal, Laval, and as far east as Granby.

The suspects will appear in court Wednesday afternoon to face charges of participating in a criminal organization, conspiring to import drugs, production and trafficking of drugs and unlawful possession of firearms.