City police issue warning about fentanyl that looks like candy

A recent seizure of small dinosaur-shaped fentanyl tablets in Winnipeg prompted a warning from police Friday amid fears children or others could mistake the potentially deadly drugs for candy.

It marked the first time the Winnipeg Police Service seized the highly potent synthetic opioid in candy-like or designer form, and it was one of the largest individual fentanyl busts in the city.

“A lot of this drug-related material has been moulded into different enticing shapes, such as dinosaurs, stars, butterflies and other designer-looking shapes,” spokesman Const. Pat Saydak told reporters.

“This could be very enticing to a lot of people, including potentially our youth. This stuff is really dangerous.”

Police would not say how much fentanyl is suspected to be in each dose, but they warned people not to take the drugs because they could be lethal.

The bust happened Sept. 24, after the drug enforcement unit became aware of trafficking in West Broadway.

Saydak said officers found 38 grams of fentanyl, which was moulded into colourful shapes, while searching a man who was arrested along with a woman.

Officers later allegedly found 134 grams of fentanyl, five grams of unprocessed fentanyl, a mixing/cutting agent, rubber moulds, scales, drug packaging, $235 in cash, a Taser with six cartridges, and pepper spray while searching an apartment suite in the first 100 block of Furby Street.

The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $268,000. Saydak said it was biggest fentanyl seizure to date for the drug enforcement unit.

Five grams of unprocessed fentanyl could create 5,000 street-level doses when a mixing/cutting agent is added, Saydak said.

As little as two micrograms of fentanyl, or the equivalent of two grains of salt, is considered a lethal dose, he said.

“This could be very enticing to a lot of people, including potentially our youth. This stuff is really dangerous.”

“It could potentially be very, very lethal to anybody that takes it or even comes into contact with it,” Saydak said about the pressed shapes, which primarily were of dinosaurs.

Police typically find fentanyl in powder or pill form.

Marion Willis, executive director of St. Boniface Street Links, which supports people with addictions, described candy-like fentanyl as “horrifying.”

“Through the eyes of a child, what does that look like?” she said, referencing the dinosaurs.

Michelle Wesley, the organization’s recovery support and housing administrator, said drug dealers often use shapes, colours or packaging to distinguish their product and promote it to users.

If users regard it as a “good” product, they will tell others to buy it, she said.

“It’s obviously to get people hooked. The word of mouth goes around quickly on the street,” said Wesley, a former street outreach co-ordinator.

“It’s obviously to get people hooked. The word of mouth goes around quickly on the street.”

Neither Willis nor Wesley had heard about fentanyl being pressed into dinosaur or other shapes in Winnipeg in the past.

“It’s concerning,” Wesley said.

As for the West Broadway bust, police said a 39-year old man and a 25-year-old woman face multiple drug trafficking, weapons, and firearms-related offences. Both were both released on undertakings.

The suspects were known to police, Saydak said.

Police urged people not to ingest or touch the pressed fentanyl shapes, and to call the non-emergency line at 204-986-6222, if found.

If ingested, people should seek medical attention immediately, Saydak said.

In February, police warned the public about fentanyl that was pressed to look like cookies. Some were shaped as hearts, flowers or honeycombs.

In 2017, Winnipeg police warned the public after seizing six fentanyl-laced paper blotters, which featured images of witches, just days before Halloween.

Last year, RCMP said officers found fentanyl moulded into the shapes of dinosaurs and Lego bricks at a home in Campbell River, B.C.

Police in Surrey, B.C., warned of fentanyl that was shaped to look like dog treats, while police in Hamilton reported finding fentanyl-laced gummies that resembled candy.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca