Labrador RCMP seize nitazene — 25 times stronger than fentanyl — in large-scale drug bust

Police in Labrador have charged 17 people with drug trafficking, which includes moving a highly toxic synthetic opioid 25 times stronger than fentanyl never before seized in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Police announced the charges on Tuesday following the success of Project Beehive, an 11-month operation focusing on drug trafficking in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Sheshatshiu.

Among the seized items are nitazene pills, a powerful synthetic opioid that resembles oxycodone pills.

The seizure of the drug — which is 25 times more potent than fentanyl — is the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the RCMP.

Nitazenes have been on the radar of public health officials for the last few months. 

Dr. Nash Denic, Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical examiner, told CBC News in September that his office had already detected nitazenes.

The RCMP also notified the public about the dangers of nitazene in late September.

The 17 people charged, all from Labrador, range in age between 21 and 52. Arrest warrants have also been issued for eight other people.

Police seized multiple items, including:

• More than 200 grams of cocaine very high in purity — between 94 and 96 per cent.
• An unspecified quantity of crack cocaine.
• Methamphetamine, both in tablet and crystal form.
• Morphine tablets.
• 17 grams of heroin.
• A quantity of LSD and methadone.
• Paraphernalia that police say is consistent with drug trafficking.
• Brass knuckles; and
• Approximately $10,000 in cash.

The items were seized during four searches that police executed with warrants — three in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and one in Sheshatshiu.

Those already facing charges will appear in provincial court at a later date.

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