Fentanyl, other drugs stolen from Swan River pharmacy

Theft could lead to an increase in illicit drugs circulating in community, RCMP warn

Image | CMA Opioid Prescribing 20150824

Caption: An undisclosed amount of prescription drugs, including fentanyl, was stolen Wednesday overnight from a Swan River pharmacy. (The Canadian Press)

Manitoba RCMP are warning residents in Swan River and nearby communities they could see an influx of illicit prescription drugs circulating in the area.
On Thursday morning, police were notified of a break and enter that occurred overnight at a pharmacy in Swan River, said RCMP.
An "undisclosed amount" of fentanyl and other prescription drugs were taken from the pharmacy, said police.
Police are especially concerned about the stolen fentanyl. The drug is estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine and hundreds of times more powerful than heroin.
"The effects of fentanyl are potentially lethal when mixed with other drugs," warned RCMP.
In January, the Manitoba government created a fentanyl task force to help raise awareness of the dangers posed by the powerful synthetic opioid.