Ottawa police arrested 19 people and confiscated marijuana, hash and cocaine at five high schools in the city's west end.

The arrests come after a 10-day investigation into the distribution and use of controlled substances on or near school properties.

Police say they watched drug deals go down on school property and saw people using drugs off school grounds.

The high schools involved are in both the Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

Nineteen-year-old Matthew Turnbull of Ottawa is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and cannabis.

A 17-year-old Ottawa male has also been charged with the same offences.

Both men have been instructed not to attend any Ottawa schools.