Journal staff
Sarnia Police are warning of a disturbing discovery of fentanyl molded into cartoon-style characters after a pair of drug busts in the city last week.
“The fentanyl had been pressed into molds resembling figures, which has never been seen by vice officers,” a news release stated, Monday, noting that it’s uncertain why the drugs had been processed in such a manner.
Possible reasons include “marketing the substance, creating an ID for the brand, or to disguise the substance as something less dangerous,” police said.
“Disguising fentanyl as something innocuous, such as cartoon characters, creates safety concerns if the fentanyl is mistaken for something less deadly,” the release stated. “Or, if in the hands of children, it may be mistaken for candy.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The discovery came as a result of a weeks-long drug investigation involving individuals suspected of trafficking large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine.
Around 10 p.m. on October 12, the Sarnia Police’s vice unit and emergency response team executed a search warrant at two homes — one, in the 200 buck of Devine Street, and the other, in the 100 block of Martin Street.
The total street value of currency and controlled substances seized was more than $73,000, police said, including some 47 grams of fentanyl.
Four people, aged 36, 41, 58 and 65, all of Sarnia, face drug related charges.
