20,000 Fentanyl pills found in Northumberland County by OPP

By Madeleine Villa ^[3]

BELLEVILLE – A large number of Fentanyl ^[4] pills disguised as oxycodone have been seized by the Northumberland OPP ^[5].

A total of 20,000 light blue pills were found. They were stamped A215, which police say is typically used to mark the 30-milligram oxycodone pill.

But the pills tested positive as Fentanyl, a highly addictive and dangerous opioid, the OPP said.

The police have warned the public to beware of counterfeit oxycodone pills, and to only ingest medications prescribed by a physician

“The police are very concerned when someone misrepresents a drug, especially a drug that winds up being trafficked at a street level,” said Const. Steve Bates from Northumberland OPP.”

“Users tend not to be as concerned about verifying what they are taking so this could be quite a public safety issue especially for street level users.”

The police have distributed a media release to the community. They have also shared it with their local health unit who have fanned it out, as well as sharing it with first responders.

“Knowledge is power of course, and to have this type of knowledge about this misrepresented pill or drug could lead a paramedic to a different type of diagnosis at a street incident. That might save a life,” said Bates.

“Please remember, you can’t see it, you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it, but if it used in minimal amounts, it can kill you,” said Bates.

The OPP are still investigating a sudden death from January which they believe is related to illegal street level drugs including Fentanyl.

No charges have been laid yet.