The Estevan RCMP have received confirmation that carfentanil has been detected in a substance seized by investigators in the Estevan area in October this year. The substance was sent away for testing at the Health Canada Drug Analysis Centre.
Marion Ellson, 52, has been charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking as a result of the seizure. Her next appearance in court is Mon, Dec. 18 in Estevan.
On October 6, Ellson and another woman were involved in a traffic stop where cocaine was discovered. A search of a rural property near Frobisher, Sask resulted in the discovery of over a kilogram of crystal meth and 300 grams of a cocaine-based substance.
READ MORE: Estevan RCMP seize $174K worth of cocaine, crystal meth near Frobisher, Sask.
Carfentanil is a derivative of fentanyl that can be 100 times more potent. The drug can also be up 10,000 times more powerful than morphine. According to police, exposure to even a very small amount can be fatal through ingestion, inhalation or absorption through the skin.
The RCMP are warning the public about the danger of consuming illicit drugs from unregulated sources. Police say street drugs can often be called one thing, but may unknowingly contain other substance, such as carfentanil.
READ MORE: First incidence of Carfentanil in Saskatchewan: drug found in Sask. Penitentiary
Police say this drug may still be circulating in southwestern Saskatchewan. Provincial health authorities have been notified and are providing situational awareness to staff.
With fentanyl and carfentanil appearing across Canada, the RCMP closely follow safety guidelines when handling an unknown substance. In the event of opioid exposure Naloxone kits have been distributed to detachments across the country. These kits contain an injection that temporarily reserves the effects of an opioid overdose.
RCMP say opioids continue to be a top priority, and they are working with domestic and international law enforcement to track criminal networks distributing carfentanil.