Richmond RCMP announced the seizure of over 1,000 illegal drug pills believed to contain fentanyl, according to the Richmond RCMP.
“The pills, green in colour, with the markings ‘CDN’ and ‘80,’ resemble the pain medication OxyContin, but are believed to contain fentanyl. A sample of the tablets was sent to the forensic laboratory for testing. The investigation is ongoing,” stated a police news release.
The pills were seized on Aug. 12, shortly after 1 a.m. by two patrol officers conducting a traffic stop in a City Centre neigbourhood. The pills were stashed in a hidden compartment of a 2015 jeep Cherokee, according to Cpl. Dennis Hwang.
Arrested was a 23-year-old male from Surrey.
“Our patrol officers have been very proactive. It illustrates that traffic stops are far from being routine. We are extremely concerned that fentanyl is being discovered in our community,” said Hwang.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate, has been linked to a number of overdoses in Vancouver and across Canada. Other hard street drugs are being “cut,” or mixed with fentanyl, resulting in adverse effects, such as permanent brain damage.
Early signs of overdose include trouble breathing, slow heartbeat, trouble walking and talking as well as severe sleepiness.
“The risk involved in taking fentanyl is very real. We take this opportunity to remind users of illicit drugs that should they choose to use, don’t use alone and start with a small amount,” he added.
