Fake oxycodone could cause overdoses, police say

Police say they have seized counterfeit oxycodone pills in Chestermere.

Calgary officers and the RCMP searched a vehicle in Chestermere and found close to 10,000 pills in a hidden compartment.

Acting Insp.Tom Hanson said the pills contained caffeine and a drug called fentanyl.

"This isn't being manufactured by a legitimate pharmacy or pharmaceutical manufacturing company.  It's manufactured in this form by clandestine labs and it's designed specifically to look like oxycontin, when in fact it's fentanyl," he said.

Fentanyl is a very strong opiate. Hanson said people could overdose if they are used to taking oxycodone.

A 29-year-old man is charged with possession for trafficking.