WATCH: One day after police warned about the dangers of the drug fentanyl, police have made a major seizure and arrests. John Daly reports.
A day after issuing a warning about a spike in the number of fentanyl related deaths in B.C., Vancouver police announced 12 people have been arrested and over 100 charges have been laid in a major drug bust.
On Feb.17, 11 search warrants were executed in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver and Richmond as part of “Project Tainted.”
The project was launched in October of last year after authorities recognized an unprecedented increase in deaths related to fentanyl.
The takedown was the result of a joint operation between Vancouver police and RCMP to disrupt local supply of fentanyl-laced drugs and deliver a blow to the local drug trade.
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Police seized seven cars, $215,000 in cash, 29,000 pills of fentanyl, 147,000 pills believed to be Alprazolam, 13,000 oxycodone pills, 9.5 kg of crack cocaine, 5.5 kg of powdered cocaine, 19.5 kg of marijuana, various other drugs and a pill press. In addition, four guns and a bulletproof vest were also seized.
Investigators say the fentanyl trade goes hand in hand with violent crimes in the community.
“Those involved in the trafficking of these drugs do not hesitate to use violence against those they feel are hindering their activities,” says Chief Superintendent Dave Critchley with Burnaby RCMP. “They often commit robberies, home invasions, serious assaults, and sometimes, go as far as committing homicides to gain control of the drug trade.”
In December, a shooting occurred in a residential neighbourhood of South Burnaby in broad daylight. The alleged shooter, who has now been charged, was believed to be involved in the drug trade and was a target for this project.
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Police say they believe B.C.’s fentanyl may be coming from Asia, but they are not aware of the existence of fentanyl labs here in B.C.
Fentanyl is a synthetic narcotic that is 50 to 100 times more toxic than other drugs like morphine. Illicit fentanyl has been showing up in liquid, powder and pill form. It can be masked in virtually any consumable product.
It is usually prescribed to control severe pain and the dose must be carefully monitored to avoid accidental overdose.
Police say there is a particularly high risk for people who have never used drugs or for people who may mistakenly use fentanyl thinking it is something else.
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