Lab results from Health Canada have confirmed that drugs seized in Red Deer in March were a mixture of Carfentanil, fentanyl and caffeine, making this the first known seizure of the deadly opioid Carfentanil in the Red Deer area.

The drugs were seized during a joint investigation by Red Deer RCMP and ALERT that led to search warrants at two Red Deer residences on March 8th.

“Carfentanil is 100 times more toxic than fentanyl – its only legal use is to sedate large animals such as elephants,” said Sgt. Robert Schultz of the Red Deer RCMP. “Because of its lethal level of potency, there is virtually no way, even in a controlled laboratory setting, to safely cut and dilute Carfentanil for use in the illicit drug trade. Drug users in Red Deer should be alarmed to know Carfentanil is in the hands of dealers who are almost certainly mixing it with other drugs or substituting it entirely.”

Fentanyl and Carfentanil are inexpensive when compared to drugs such as cocaine and heroin, which is incentive for drug dealers to mix or substitute it in order to increase their profit margins. And that means people who think they’re buying cocaine or heroin may be getting fentanyl or Carfentanil instead. Nationally, RCMP have noted alarming increases in fatal overdoses linked to the consumption of fentanyl-related products.

“Drug dealers don’t care about your health – they’re looking for the biggest profit and they’re working in a system that is run by organized crime,” said Schultz. “Are these really the people you want to trust your life with?”

Naloxone can be used to treat exposure to Carfentanil along with first aid protocols; however, a much greater dosage of Naloxone is required than for fentanyl overdoses.

For more information about the RCMP’s work to combat the illicit trade in Carfentanil and fentanyl, visit http://infoweb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pacificregion/branches/osb/communication-services/media-lines/Carfentanil-eng.html.

– Fawcett