logo
Alberta RCMP warns of deadly counterfeit pills after death of 16-year-old in Edmonton area

Alberta RCMP warns of deadly counterfeit pills after death of 16-year-old in Edmonton area

Alberta RCMP has issued a province-wide warning about a potentially deadly supply of illegal opiates disguised as the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, after the death of a 16-year-old male in the Edmonton area.
Article content
The teen's death is under investigation, and while the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will ultimately determine the cause, RCMP said the circumstances surrounding the case prompted the force to act swiftly.
Article content
Article content
Article content
'Some of this substance was located with the deceased,' said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, acting Alberta RCMP media relations manager. 'It's enough for RCMP to strongly believe that this was a strong potential cause of the death, and it's enough for us to have concern, to want to immediately communicate our concern.'
Article content
RCMP believe the counterfeit pill involved in the teen's death was obtained in Edmonton, and that the drug 'could very quickly make its way across the province.'
Article content
According to RCMP, the counterfeit pills mimic the appearance of Xanax but are grey instead of white, and they contain isotonitazene, a highly potent synthetic opioid which Savinkoff noted as 'a great concern' because it's 'very easy to overdose and cause death.'
Article content
The pills are rectangular, have the word ONAX stamped on one side, and a vertical '2' on the other.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Savinkoff said the public alert was necessary to prevent further harm.
Article content
Article content
'Parents, relatives, and other community members need to share this information as much as possible, and especially so now that school is out,' he said.
Article content
Article content
The Alberta RCMP is urging the public to avoid taking any medication not prescribed by a licensed pharmacist.
Article content
'It's a given that drugs should not be obtained if you don't have a prescription. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They're dangerous,' Savinkoff said. 'And if you don't have a prescription and you don't know where the drug came from, there's always going to be risk.'
Article content
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

3 women arrested after altercation, stabbing at North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay
3 women arrested after altercation, stabbing at North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay

CTV News

time9 minutes ago

  • CTV News

3 women arrested after altercation, stabbing at North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay

Police in North Vancouver say they've arrested three women in connection to a stabbing that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning at Lonsdale Quay. Officers responded to 'reports of a distraught female' near the bus loop around 2:45 a.m., North Vancouver RCMP said in a news release Saturday afternoon. When they arrived, officers found a woman who had 'injuries consistent with being assaulted with an edged weapon,' police said. As the investigation continued, police found two other women on the second floor, above the bus loop. Police said one of them had similar injuries to the woman found on the lower floor. 'It's alleged that the three females were involved in a dispute and an assault occurred,' the RCMP release reads. 'Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and there is no risk to the public currently.' All three women were taken into custody for the alleged assaults, and two of the three were taken to hospital for 'injuries ranging from minor to serious,' according to police. 'As the investigation is in its very early stages, there are a lot of unanswered questions that police are seeking answers for,' said Cpl. Mansoor Sahak, in the release. 'What we do know is that there was a dispute between the parties, who were known to each other, before the alleged assault occurred.' Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to investigators to contact them at 604-985-1311 and quote file number 25-15578.

Burnaby RCMP gang team seizes vehicles, drugs and $63K in cash in 3 traffic stops
Burnaby RCMP gang team seizes vehicles, drugs and $63K in cash in 3 traffic stops

CTV News

time39 minutes ago

  • CTV News

Burnaby RCMP gang team seizes vehicles, drugs and $63K in cash in 3 traffic stops

Police shared this image of items seized during the third traffic stop. (Burnaby RCMP) Burnaby RCMP's Gang Enforcement Team had a busy nine-day stretch earlier this month, making sizable seizures during three traffic stops between July 8 and 16. In all, the team seized two vehicles, multiple weapons, more than a kilogram of illicit drugs, 55 cartons of illegal cigarettes and more than $63,000 in cash over the span, Burnaby RCMP said in a news release Friday. The first traffic stop took place July 8 near Beresford Street and McKay Avenue. BGET officers stopped a Porsche and made 'observations' that led them to arrest the occupant, police said. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of the illegal cigarettes, plus nearly $16,000 in cash. Burnaby RCMP seizure 1 Police shared this photo of items seized during the first traffic stop. (Burnaby RCMP) On July 14, the second stop occurred during proactive patrols near Boundary Road and Canada Way, according to Burnaby RCMP. This time, BGET officers stopped a Tesla and noted that the driver had 'a criminal drug trafficking history.' 'Observations made by the officers resulted in the arrest of the occupant, and a subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of the vehicle, two cellular phones, a collapsible baton, miscellaneous illicit drugs and over $4,000 in cash,' the release reads. Burnaby RCMP seizure 2 Police shared this image of the items seized during the second traffic stop. (Burnaby RCMP) Two days later, on July 16, the third traffic stop occurred, this time on Imperial Street near Gray Avenue. In this case, too, the driver had a criminal drug trafficking history, according to police. The driver also had a history of assault with a weapon. After arresting the vehicle's occupant, officers seized it, along with two cellphones, two knives, more than a kilogram of 'miscellaneous illicit drugs,' and nearly $44,000 in cash. Burnaby RCMP seizure 3 Police shared this image of items seized during the third traffic stop. (Burnaby RCMP) While all three drivers were arrested, none of them have been charged. The investigations are ongoing and 'appropriate charges will be forwarded' when they are concluded, police said. 'These are just three examples of the great work that our BGET officers are doing day in and day out,' said Insp. Matt Toews, in the release. 'Every time we disrupt a drug organization like this is one step closer to safer streets and a safer community.'

49-year-old Moncton woman dead after Berry Mills crash
49-year-old Moncton woman dead after Berry Mills crash

CBC

time4 hours ago

  • CBC

49-year-old Moncton woman dead after Berry Mills crash

A 49-year-old Moncton, N.B., woman is dead after two vehicles collided in Berry Mills, N.B., Friday morning. In a statement, RCMP said the crash happened on Berry Mills Road around 9 a.m. AT between a pickup truck and an SUV. Police believe the woman, who was driving the SUV, was travelling northbound when her vehicle crossed the centre line and collided with the pickup truck. RCMP said the woman was the only person in the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were two people in the pickup truck and they were taken to hospital with injuries that aren't considered life threatening.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store