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Ontario pharmacist believed to have helped robbery suspects steal fentanyl: police

York regional police have arrested three people after a Georgina drug store robbery. Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images

York Regional Police have laid charges against a pharmacist and two alleged accomplices after a pharmacy was robbed in Georgina, last month.

Investigators from the hold-up unit believe 61-year-old pharmacist Michael Christopher Yamasaki of Markham may have aided two suspects in the Sept. 2 robbery in which a quantity of fentanyl and other drugs were handed over at gunpoint.

READ MORE: Toronto widow speaks out after husband overdoses on cocaine possibly laced with fentanyl

Initially, the incident was reported to have happened before 9:00 a.m. prior to the opening of Ben’s Pharmacy on Pefferlaw road, in which two suspects with balaclavas allegedly demanded narcotics from a safe.

However, after executing a search warrant at a Georgina residence on Sept. 21, investigators were able to ascertain that the suspects received help in the burglary and arrested the two robbery suspects, plus Yamasaki.

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Fifty-year-old Geoffrey Prior, 40-year-old Wendy Page, both of Georgina, and Yamasaki are all facing charges related to conspiracy to commit break and enter, conspiracy to commit trafficking in a controlled substance, public mischief and theft over $5,000 as well as possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

WATCH: Fentanyl has made its way onto Toronto streets and with a growing number of reported overdoses, Global News Erica Vella reports.

Click to play video: 'Fentanyl Crisis: Health professional takes questions from Canadians'
Fentanyl Crisis: Health professional takes questions from Canadians

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