A photo taken of Fentanyl pills. (The Canadian Press)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drugs

Suspected supply of Fentanyl in Prince Albert, police concerned for public safety

Oct 31, 2020 | 9:00 AM

The drug Fentanyl had been linked to over 50 overdose deaths in Saskatchewan this year, and that’s one of the reasons why Prince Albert Police are very concerned about a possible supply of the illicit drug arriving in the city.

During a media briefing Friday afternoon, Inspector Brent McDonald said a small supply of a pebble sized substance, resembling Nerds candy, was seized by officers.

“We’ve sent that evidence off for testing to a lab, so we are waiting for the results however based on the investigation, as of today (Friday), we have reason to believe it will come back as positive,” he said.

Illicit fentanyl is usually produced in powder form. It can also be dropped onto blotter paper, placed into eyedroppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids. McDonald said the drug can also be easily mixed as well with other harmful drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA.

“It’s an odorless drug and it doesn’t take very much. Just a few little specs of it can be fatal,” he said.

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Fentanyl is odorless, and because it is often mixed with other substances, will not have a distinctive or unique appearance.

(The Canadian Press)

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service has confirmed 53 people have died from drug toxicity involving Fentanyl between Jan. 1 and Oct. 26. The coroner’s report also shows 122 deaths the province are conclusively linked to drug toxicity, with five connected directly to Prince Albert. Only Saskatoon (24) and Regina (58) recorded a high number of related deaths.

The recent suspected Fentanyl seizure, is not the police service’s first encounter with the drug. McDonald also acknowledged that the drug, which can be inhaled, is also a danger to the investigating officers.

“Our officers will definitely utilize PPE when handling suspected substances or conducting searches where we are expecting to come across drugs,” he said.

For obvious reasons, the Prince Albert Police Service is therefore reminding the public about the risks associated with using illegal street drugs. Residents are advised to call 911 immediately if they think someone is in need of medical attention as a result of drug use.

Anyone with information about the presence of Fentanyl in Prince Albert is asked to contact Prince Albert Police at 306-953-4222 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell