Calgary police say two people have been charged after a record amount of pharmaceutical drug phenacetin was seized by investigators last week.
The drug, a pain killer, is regulated under the Food and Drugs Act due to its potential cancer-causing properties. Police say it’s used as a cutting agent for cocaine and is often referred to as “super buff.”
In a Wednesday news conference, Staff Sgt. Mark Hatchette said the “sole purpose for that drug is to make cocaine more profitable to organized criminals.”
Investigators said 83 kilograms of phenacetin worth an estimated $83,000 was seized during the search of an apartment in the 1000 block of 14 Avenue S.W. on April 20.
“This is a significant seizure in Calgary and we in the Calgary Police Service believe that this does make a dent in the organized crime activities of drug traffickers in the city,” Hatchette said.
Officers arrested two people living in the apartment.
Police allege multiple organizations in Calgary and other cities across Canada were receiving similar drugs distributed from the people who were charged.
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“We’re very confident that future investigations will stem from this seizure,” Hatchette added.
In addition to the phenacetin, police said other items seized from the apartment included a loaded nine-millimetre Glock handgun, 5.3 grams of cocaine, $7,800 in Canadian currency, $535 in U.S. currency and various items believed to be used in the reprocessing of drugs.
The investigation was sparked after the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized three barrels of phenacetin last year.
“There were three barrels that were shipped through our mail centre in Vancouver last year: two in July and one in October – each of them totaling approximately 25 kilograms a piece and all destined to Calgary,” CBSA chief Candace Lyle said.
“CBSA is on high alert now, as a result of some of the fentanyl seizures that we’ve come across,” Lyle explained. “So any white powdery substance that we come across now we are testing. We handle it as if it is fentanyl until we know differently.”
Mohamed Sirage Omar, 32, of Calgary, is charged with several offences including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a firearm while prohibited.
Yasmin Ibrahim Mohammed, 31, of Calgary, is charged with several offences, including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a firearm without a licence.
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