Mounties say that officers investigating a break and enter in Prince George, B.C., stumbled on what turned out to be the biggest haul of illicit drugs in the city's history.

RCMP say the officers were responding to the break-and-enter report on Wednesday when they noticed a large number of counterfeit cigarettes on the premises.

They say a search warrant was obtained, and investigators seized nearly 40 kilograms of illicit drugs, including suspected fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as about 120,000 counterfeit cigarettes and more than $500,000 in cash.

Officers also seized more than 11 kilograms of cannabis and 11 kilograms of what was thought to be a cutting agent.

Inspector Darin Rappel, the interim detachment commander for the Prince George RCMP, says in a statement the scale of the seizure is "a clear indication" that the city is being used as a base of operations by more than local drug traffickers.

He says police will be increasing enforcement efforts in the area as a result of the seizure.

"It is obvious we can no longer ignore the effects of the B.C. gang conflict in Prince George," he said.