Saskatoon police seize fentanyl pills, warn of drug overdoses

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The city police drug team, assisted by other investigating teams, seized 1,814 illegally manufactured fentanyl pills on Wednesday.

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In a news release on Friday, police said the pills “presumptively tested positive for fentanyl” and samples were sent to Health Canada for analysis.

“The seizure of these pills confirms that drugs are appearing in different forms (i.e. pressed and powder), and the public is reminded that any drug not prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist can result in serious injury or death,” the release said.

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On Thursday, a state of emergency was declared after fire crews reported responding to more than 300 drug overdoses in about two weeks, since Feb. 25.

“We are facing a serious and urgent crisis in our community right now,” Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block said in a statement.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in Saskatoon to enhance response to the crisis. The centre can help provide resources or assistance beyond what might be commonly and readily available.

Police are reminding the public of the Good Samaritan Overdose Act, which provides some legal protection to a person who experiences or witnesses an overdose and seeks emergency help.

Overdose symptoms may include, but aren’t limited to, “slow or no breathing, gurgling, gasping or snoring, clammy and cool skin, blue lips or nails and difficulty waking up or staying awake,” police said in the release. In the case of a suspected overdose, call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information on illegal drugs in the community is asked to contact police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-22-8477 or online.

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