Fentanyl-related deaths on Blood reserve prompt charges

Charges have been laid after two fatal fentanyl overdoses on the Blood reserve in southern Alberta.

Lee Boyd, the Blood Tribe's police chief, says the overdoses have been linked to a birthday party last Friday.

• Blood Tribe enacts state of emergency over drug-related deaths

Boyd says two people were found dead at a home on the reserve. Two others received medical attention and survived.

"One of them was there at the house, where it's our information some illicit drugs were used to celebrate someone's birthday and other information was that the other two subjects had sold the drugs to somebody to take at the party," Boyd said.

Three residents of the reserve — two of whom live in Standoff — have been charged with trafficking and causing death by criminal negligence.

"If you're peddling drugs in this community, and we catch you, we're going to prosecute you to the full extent of the law possible," Boyd said.

Boyd says the Blood Tribe Police Service is using all its resources to stop illegal drug trade in the community.