PETERBOROUGH-The Peterborough Police Service is issuing a warning after receiving confirmation that a substance seized during a traffic stop was carfentanil, a drug 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
On October 24, 2017 at approximately 10:30 p.m. officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Parkhill Road West and Monaghan Road. As a result of the traffic stop marijuana was located inside the vehicle along with a dark powdered substance.
The unknown substance was submitted to Health Canada for testing. Results received from Health Canada on the evening of December 20, 2017 have confirmed that the substance was carfentanil. This marks the first confirmed carfentanil seizure in the City of Peterborough.“We are warning recreational drug users that this potentially fatal drug is now in our City. Fentanyl is an additive or cutting agent in virtually all street drugs. The potential for carfentanil to also be present in common street drugs is very much a real threat,” says Deputy Chief Farquharson.
The Peterborough Police Service has notified its partners of the results including Peterborough Public Health and the Peterborough Drug Strategy.
Carfentanil is commonly used by veterinarians as a tranquilizer for larger animals, such as elephants. The amount of carfentanil seized during the October traffic stop was .7 grams.
“Exposure to a very small amount of this drug, about the size of a grain of salt or 20 micrograms, could be fatal though inhalation and ingestion. There is also concern due to the fact that it can be absorbed through the skin,” says Peterborough Police Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson, member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Substance Advisory Committee, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Drug Advisory Committee and the Central East Opiod Strategy Task Force.
Peterborough Police have been concerned for the last several months that carfentanil may be in the Peterborough area.
“We are not surprised that this drug is now in our community given the opiod crisis sweeping across Canada and is a reminder that every community is susceptible. Police services are working collaboratively and with a multi-disciplinary approach to deal with the many challenges that the opiod crisis is presenting.”
As a result of the traffic stop the following persons were arrested and charged:
Khalid Omer, 20, of Galahad Drive, Oshawa, was charged with the following:
· Possession of a schedule I substance (Carfentanil)
· Possession of a schedule II substance (Marijuana under 30 grams)
Jillian Cianna Halley, 20, of Galahad Drive, Oshawa, was charged with the following:
· Possession of a schedule I substance (Carfentanil)
· Possession of a schedule II substance (Marijuana under 30 grams)
Keniel Anthony McLaughlin, 22, of Hewitt Crescent, Ajax, was charged with the following:
· Possession of a schedule I substance (Carfentanil)
· Possession of a schedule II substance (Marijuana under 30 grams)
