Police seize synthetic fentanyl in its pill form for first time in city

A deadly dose of fentanyl is 2 mg, which is equal to just two grains of salt.

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1 / 1 Fentanyl pills. Photo courtesy North Bay Police Service.

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A first in the city's drug culture, and one that has police concerned today as they seized fentanyl in pill form being trafficked locally.

On Friday, officers with the North Bay Police Service’s Street Crime Unit started an investigation after watching a suspected drug transaction take place between two people at Third Avenue and Cassells Street.

Police arrested both individuals and seized:

two small blue synthetic fentanyl pills; and
$210 in Canadian currency.

Then, police executed a search warrant at a home on Rowe Avenue and seized:

3.6 grams of cocaine;
37 grams of psilocybin (magic mushrooms);
nine suboxone pills;
one 30 mg morphine pill;
271 fentanyl pills;
$420 in Canadian currency; and
a switchblade knife.

The combined street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $28,150.

Christopher John Landriault, age 40 of North Bay, was held in custody for a bail hearing and charged with:

one count of trafficking (fentanyl);
four counts of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine, psilocybin, suboxone, morphine);
one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl);
two counts of possession of property obtained by crime (cash); and
one count of possession of a prohibited weapon (switchblade knife).

Carrie-Ann Elizabeth Maria Landriault, age 45, of North Bay, was released from custody with a court date scheduled for July 5th. Landriault was charged with:

one count of trafficking (fentanyl);
four counts of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine, psilocybin, suboxone, morphine);
one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl);
one count of possession of property obtained by crime (cash); and
one count of possession of a prohibited weapon (switchblade knife).

A 27-year old North Bay man, who was released from custody with a court date scheduled for July 5th, was charged with one count of possession of fentanyl.

This incident marks the first time North Bay Police have seized synthetic fentanyl, in its illegal pill form, in the city. These pills were made to resemble 30 mg Oxcodone Hydrochloride prescription pills, which are blue and imprinted with “A 215.”

Generally found in Western Canada, synthetic fentanyl pills (often fake OxyContin pills that are green and imprinted with “80”) are causing major concerns for health care and law enforcement professionals in that area of the country who have recently reported a significant increase in deaths caused by overdoses of the drug. It is believed that many of the overdoses were from individuals who unknowningly consumed fentanyl.

Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid prescribed for the treatment of acute and chronic pain, usually in patients already tolerant to high doses of less powerful opioids such as morphine or oxycodone.

Fentanyl is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine and 40 times more potent than heroin. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but if the drug you’re taking (cocaine, heroin, or other) is cut with fentanyl, it can kill you.

A deadly dose of fentanyl is 2 mg, which is equal to just two grains of salt.

Early signs of a fentanyl overdose include: