A man could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in a drug trafficking operation that led to the largest fentanyl bust in Minnesota history.
Robiel Williams pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl after authorities seized more than 280,000 fentanyl pills in early 2023.
Man pleads guilty for role in Minnesota’s largest fentanyl bust Read More »
Canada’s drug supply crisis is escalating with the emergence of nitazenes, a new and highly dangerous synthetic opioid often referred to as “fentanyl’s deadly cousin.” This substance is intensifying the risks in an already hazardous drug market, posing a severe threat to public health and leaving experts scrambling to address its devastating effects. Nitazenes were originally developed for research purposes in the mid-20th century but were never approved for medical use. Their potency, which surpasses that of both morphine and fentanyl, has made them a particularly dangerous addition to the illicit drug trade. Variants such as isotonitazene and metonitazene are frequently mixed with other substances, increasing the likelihood of accidental overdoses. Although the presence of nitazenes in Canada is relatively recent, their influence is growing rapidly. Health authorities across the country have reported an increase in overdose deaths linked to nitazenes. A significant concern is that individuals consuming drugs laced with nitazenes are often unaware of their presence. Nitazenes are commonly sold as or combined with fentanyl, heroin, or counterfeit pills, making their detection and management challenging. The unpredictability of street drugs containing nitazenes has heightened public health concerns. These substances can cause severe respiratory depression, often requiring more naloxone—an opioid overdose reversal drug—than standard doses can provide. This complicates emergency responses and places an additional burden on healthcare systems. The combination of nitazenes and fentanyl is particularly deadly. Fentanyl, already a primary driver of Canada’s opioid crisis, is now more dangerous when laced with nitazenes. This lethal mix increases the potency and unpredictability of street drugs, significantly raising the risk of fatal overdoses. The combination amplifies the challenges faced by public health officials and harm reduction programs, further straining already overstretched resources. The emergence of nitazenes in Canada is closely tied to global drug trafficking trends. These substances are synthesized in clandestine laboratories and trafficked internationally. Their extreme potency allows traffickers to transport smaller quantities, reducing detection risks while maximizing profits. A lack of regulation and monitoring has facilitated their rapid entry into illicit drug markets, complicating efforts to combat their spread. The rise of nitazenes underscores the complex and evolving nature of Canada’s opioid crisis. Public health officials are working to identify and track nitazenes, while adapting harm reduction strategies to address this new threat. However, several challenges have emerged. Standard naloxone kits may not be as effective against nitazene overdoses, often requiring higher or repeated doses. This places additional pressure on emergency responders and community organizations. The surge in overdose deaths linked to nitazenes and fentanyl has further strained healthcare systems, highlighting the urgent need for robust public health interventions. To address the crisis, a comprehensive approach is required. Enhancing drug monitoring capabilities to detect nitazenes in real time is critical. Increasing access to supervised consumption sites, where medical professionals can oversee drug use, could save lives and provide safer environments for individuals who use drugs. Public awareness campaigns are essential for informing communities about the dangers of nitazenes and educating them on how to respond to overdoses. Drug policy reforms that address the root causes of the toxic drug supply, along with efforts to reduce stigma around drug use, are also key to mitigating the crisis. On a global level, stronger international collaborations are needed to disrupt the production and trafficking of synthetic opioids like nitazenes. Canada’s opioid crisis is entering a new and dangerous phase with the rise of nitazenes. The substance’s potency, combined with its frequent presence alongside fentanyl, has created a critical public health challenge. Swift and decisive action is needed to mitigate its impact. By improving harm reduction measures, strengthening drug monitoring systems, and raising public awareness, Canada can begin to address the devastating effects of nitazenes and work toward saving lives. 24 November 2024
The Rising Threat of Nitazenes in Canada’s Toxic Drug Supply Read More »
RCMP in B.C. is warning about a new way that drugs are being disguised in the province. On Sept. 25, the Campbell River Street Crime Unit with assistance from the Major Crime Unit, Community Response Unit, Community Policing Unit, General Duty and First Nations policing searched three locations. Two searches were conducted in the 900 block of Island Highway South and another in the 600 block of Nursery Road. Police seized more than 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl with some that was being diluted, dyed, flavoured and moulded into dinosaurs, Lego bricks and other shapes. In addition, police seized more than 180 grams of cocaine, more than 290 grams of methamphetamine, a small number of dilaudid pills as well as cash, weapons including a firearm, and other items commonly used in drug trafficking. Leah Lewis of Campbell River has been charged with drug trafficking and production offences and is currently in custody. “It’s a profoundly disturbing seizure of drugs and I want to profoundly thank the RCMP who were involved in doing the investigation and breaking up this drug ring,” BC NDP candidate David Eby said on Friday. “We’re making sure that the RCMP have the tools they need to arrest the criminals who are distributing this toxic and poisonous drug supply throughout our province that’s killing people. We’re seizing the cars and the homes of the gangsters who are profiting from it. They’re not walking into casinos with bags of cash anymore with impunity, they are in court right now and we are taking their stuff and we’ve got to do more.” Eby said the federal government has a role to play in intercepting the chemicals that are imported to Canada and used to make these drugs. 11 October 2024 Source: Global News
Fentanyl shaped like Lego, toys in Campbell River drug bust. Read More »
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing seized just under half-a-pound of fentanyl November 17. Two people were arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. “Fentanyl interdiction remains an important element of the CBP enforcement mission,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “Stopping this dangerous product before it can make it into our communities will help save lives.” The seizure was made just after midnight Sunday when a 33-year-old male U.S. citizen and a 47-year-old female U.S. citizen entered the country together from Mexico through the pedestrian lanes. CBP officers working at the primary inspection area selected the pair for additional scrutiny. A CBP drug sniffing dog alerted to the presence of narcotics during a secondary exam. During the inspection process the female traveler removed a bundle of fentanyl that had been concealed within her vaginal cavity. The package weighed 3.1 ounces. One package of fentanyl was removed from the rectal cavity of the male traveler. It weighed 4.2 ounces. Both travelers were arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations. Federal prosecution was accepted on the pair. In addition to this seizure, CBP officers working in the El Paso area recorded multiple enforcement actions since Saturday. They seized 103 pounds of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana. They also confiscated more than 3,500 units of prescription medications as well as several veterinary medications. CBP officers also recorded four National Crime Information Center fugitive arrests and intercepted prohibited food products arriving from Mexico. 19 November 2024 US Customs
El Paso CBP officers stop internal cavity drug smugglers Read More »
The judge seemed to want to make sure he had heard correctly just how much fentanyl the federal drug prosecutor said was found at a London address. “15?” Superior Court Justice Michael Carnegie asked Vince Mazza, encouraging him to repeat the measurement during the brief synopsis of the case. “Kilograms,” Mazza said. Those were all the facts that went into the record at Taymoor Pasha’s guilty plea Friday to one count of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. There will be more facts presented at the London man’s sentencing hearing slated for next year and more about the other 20 charges that are on his lengthy indictment. While the court hearing was brief and routine, the amount of drugs described to Carnegie by Mazza is massive. Sarnia police said when the drug bust and charges were announced in February 2023, that all of the drugs seized had a street value of nearly $3.2 million and the fentanyl seizure alone amounted to roughly seven million doses. They said it was one of the largest seizures of street drugs in the region, and certainly the biggest bust ever initiated by Sarnia police. They also said that the bust had put a large dent in the drug trafficking business across the region. Pasha was charged, along with a second person, in January 2023. Pasha’s lone guilty plea was enough to start the process of preparing a pre-sentence report for his next hearing. He told Carnegie he understood he had given up his right to a trial by entering the initial plea. “Guilty,” the 24-year-old tall, bespectacled man with a beard said while he stood in the prisoner’s box. Mazza told the judge that the drugs were discovered in “a stash house” belonging to Pasha during a police search on Jan. 26, 2023. He told Carnegie he would not elaborate any more about the case until Pasha’s next hearing. Sarnia police said in February 2023 that the investigation was a three-month effort initiated after a tip that a man with ties to London was trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs in Sarnia and across Southwestern Ontario. Sarnia police and the OPP’s guns-and-gangs enforcement team joined forces for the investigation and were able to identify two London addresses, one on Cheapside Street and one on Mornington Avenue, suspected to be part of the drug trafficking scheme. Search warrants turned up 15 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 3.4 kilograms of cocaine, 1.4 kilograms of MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, and a large number of prescription pills including oxycodone, codeine, morphine, Percocet, hydromorphone and others. Also seized was a Ruger handgun. The large seizure of fentanyl was particularly significant. The synthetic opioid that is highly addictive and up to 100 times more powerful than morphine has been identified as the main culprit in the ongoing opioid drug crisis across Ontario and the rest of the country. Not only has it ravaged the lives of the addicted, it has also been proven to be fatal to drug users who unknowingly purchase drugs that have been mixed with the opioid. A second person charged in the investigation is expected to go on trial in May. Pasha’s case returns in the new year. 15 November 2024 Source: The London Free Press
Man pleads guilty to possessing 15 kg of fentanyl seized in $3.2M drug bust Read More »
