Drugs seized by Surrey RCMP two months ago contained W-18, Health Canada has confirmed.
Mounties seized pebble heroin and other drugs during a dial-a-dope drug investigation in mid-December. Tests conducted by Health Canada confirmed the heroin contained W-18, a synthetic compound deadlier than even fentanyl, which has been blamed in part for a spike in opioid overdoses that killed 914 across B.C. last year.
Tests by Health Canada, announced Friday, also confirmed a strain of fentanyl in cocaine seized by West Shore RCMP on Vancouver Island in May 2016. At the time of the seizure, authorities were called to three overdoses in the West Shore RCMP jurisdiction.
BC RCMP issued a warning to drug users of the findings, urging the chemicals discovered “may be present anywhere.”
Police continue to receive other confirmations from communities around the province regarding the presences of fentanyl, or fentanyl derivatives, or other potent chemicals.
“These lab results are once again prompting us to warn illicit drug users that it doesn’t matter where you buy your drugs, or who you get them from. The danger is the same if you’re in the big city or in a small community. I cannot stress that enough – there is no safe haven,”
said Asst. Cmsr. Jim Gresham, head of the BC RCMP’s Investigative Services and Organized Crime.
“You must be aware that at any time dangerous and potentially lethal drugs may be present in what you’re consuming,” Gresham said. “Unfortunately, there is no way for you to know what is really sold being to you. Please take steps to avoid making a potentially lethal decision.”
For more information about overdose prevention and awareness visit www.gov.bc.ca/overdose
