Police bust St. James fentanyl operation
‘This is the type of powder where just a grain or two can kill someone,’ police say
Winnipeg police seized an ounce of pure fentanyl valued at approximately $22,400 from a suite on Strauss Drive on Monday.
"This is the type of powder where just a grain or two can kill someone," police spokesperson Const. Jay Murray said Tuesday.
Officers from the specially trained clandestine unit dealt with the potentially deadly opioid.
Murray said a single ounce of concentrated fentanyl can be diluted to make 100 ounces.
In addition to the pure fentanyl, officers seized an ounce of diluted fentanyl, marijuana, cash and a fake handgun.
Investigators believe these arrests and the seized items are related to drug trafficking within the city.
A 32-year-old man and a woman, 35, are in custody facing numerous drug charges. The man was "well known to police" according to Murray.
"The threat that fentanyl provides to the community remains a priority for the Winnipeg Police Service," Murray said. He added the number of incidents involving fentanyl has remained steady.