Police say they've smashed a crime ring behind a series of shootings in the Halifax area, including one outside a children's hospital.

Halifax Regional Police and RCMP arrested 13 people and seized a number of weapons Thursday as part of a year-long investigation.

The suspects all face drug-related charges.

Three of the suspects also face charges in connection with a shooting outside the IWK Health Centre in November and an attack on Jimmy Melvin Jr. in Cowie Hill last month.

Police said the three men face charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

"These incidents, namely shootings in public places, put innocent victims at risk, despite being committed by groups of people who were known to each other, who are involved in the illegal drug trade and responsible for the associated violence," said Halifax police Chief Frank Beazley.

"Ultimately, the practice of resorting to violence to run their enterprise transcended into a community safety concern."

Police allege all of the suspects are from one gang based in the Spryfield and Fairview areas of Halifax.

The police operation was launched a year ago as a drug investigation.

Early Thursday, RCMP and Halifax Regional Police raided six houses in Halifax and one in New Glasgow.

Police said they found a loaded AK-47 assault riffle, a loaded sawed-off shotgun, a MAC 10 automatic machine pistol, a rifle, and some ammunition.

Several of the suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Friday on some of the charges.