Police seize fentanyl moulded into gummy-bear and dinosaur shapes in Vancouver Island search
Mounties on Vancouver Island say more than 3,500 pills they seized while executing a search warrant last week were diverted from the province's prescription safer supply program.
The Dilaudid tablets were found alongside more than two kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine and one kilogram of methamphetamine in a home in the 600 block of Nursery Road in Campbell River on Feb. 21, the local RCMP detachment said in a news release this week.
"Dilaudid is a powerful opioid prescribed for severe pain or as a safe supply," the Campbell River RCMP statement reads.
"Evidence was located during the search suggesting that these Dilaudid pills had been diverted from safe supply prescriptions."
CTV News asked the detachment for more information about this evidence, as well as an estimate of how many different safer supply prescriptions the pills may have come from, but did not receive a response.
The diversion of opioids prescribed as safer supply was a key focus of the province's recent review of the program.
At a news conference in early February, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said diversion does happen, but its extent and impact are unknown.
For people who use drugs, diverted opioids can be an alternative to the poisoned street supply. Diversion to people who don’t already use drugs and start to, on the other hand, can be harmful, she explained.
"Diversion is not, in itself, good or bad or right or wrong," Henry said at the time.
The recent seizure in Campbell River was the second involving Dilaudid pills in the city in as many weeks.
An earlier seizure on Feb. 14 yielded more than 1,400 of them. At the time, Mounties noted that Dilaudid is often prescribed as a safer alternative to street drugs, but did not specify whether they believed the seized pills had been diverted from a safer supply program.
The most recent search on Feb. 21 also yielded more than $30,000 in cash, "a significant quantity of liquid GHB" and "numerous other prescription pills," police said in their release.
"Extensive documentation found on scene suggested a well-organized drug trafficking operation was being run from the residence," the statement reads. "Of note, some of the fentanyl powder had been moulded into the shape of gummy bears and dinosaurs."
Police said they also seized a 2022 Dodge Ram and a 1999 Jeep Cherokee as "offence-related property."
A woman in her 50s was arrested at the scene and released with a court date scheduled for May, police said, adding that they would be recommending charges against her and three others as a result of their investigation.
"This investigation and sizable drug seizure is an excellent example of the ongoing efforts of our officers to hold the criminal elements of the drug trade accountable for their illegal activities in our community," said Insp. Jeff Preston, in the release.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Lisa Steacy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.