Posted by A Cambridge man faces a drug trafficking charge involving fentanyl after a traffic stop in St. George by the Brant County OPP.
The substance seized on Oct. 5, 2018 has proven to fentanyl, a powerful and potentially deadly opioid. A patrol officer stopped a car in St. George at approximately 1 a.m. that day for a Highway Traffic Act violation.
During the traffic stop the officer was alerted to some items in the vehicle and an investigation was started. The officer located a quantity or marijuana and other substances covered under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Health Canada has conducted testing and confirmed that the other substance was in fact approximately 17 grams (17,000 mg) of fentanyl.
Police have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Cambridge man with possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drug and Substances act.
He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brantford at a later date to answer to the charges.
The OPP want to remind everyone about the high risk to public safety that is inherent when police make a fentanyl seizure of this size in a community. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. Just 0.25 mg can kill an adult. For perspective, a baby aspirin tablet is 81 mg. If you cut that tablet into 324 pieces each piece would be approximately 0.25 mg.
“To put the impact of this seizure on public safety into context, 17 grams of fentanyl is enough quantity of this drug to provide a lethal dose to 68,000 people,” said Inspector Lisa Anderson, Brant County OPP detachment commander. “Focusing on harm reduction, those who participate in the purchase of illicit drugs must be aware of the presence of fentanyl in our community and the risks they are taking when purchasing illicit drugs. Public safety and awareness must be a priority for everyone when it comes to fentanyl in our communities.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident or anyone who wishes to report the possession and distribution of illicit fentanyl in our community is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.crimestoppers-brant.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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