Police Seize More Than $50,000 Worth of Candy Moulded Fentanyl in Winnipeg

Winnipeg police say two individuals are facing multiple drug trafficking charges following the seizure of candy moulded fentanyl with a street value of more than $50,000 and 5,000 doses of unprocessed fentanyl.

The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) carried out a search warrant of an apartment in the West Broadway neighbourhood of Winnipeg, which led to the seizure of 134 grams of processed fentanyl with an estimated street value of $53,600, as well as five grams of unprocessed fentanyl with an estimated street value of $200,000, according to a Sept. 26 news release.

The processed fentanyl was found to be moulded into “enticing” colourful shapes such as dinosaurs, stars, butterflies, cacti, pineapples, and other “designer looking shapes,” WPS Const. Pat Saydak said at a Sept. 26 press conference.

“This could be very enticing to a lot of people including potentially our youth, and this stuff is really dangerous,” Saydak said.

When a mixing or cutting agent is added to five grams of unprocessed fentanyl, it has the potential to create 5,000 doses of “street level” fentanyl, he said, adding that as little as two micrograms of fentanyl, or the equivalent of two grains of salt, is considered to be a lethal dose.

This is the police force’s largest seizure of fentanyl to date, Saydak said. He noted this is the first time the unit has seen the drug in “designer” pressed form resembling candy, although the WPS guns and gangs unit became aware of the opioid being pressed into colourful shapes that resembled cookies, candles, soaps, and candies earlier this year.

The search warrant also led to the seizure of mixing or cutting agent to add to unprocessed fentanyl, a taser with six cartridges, pepper spray, $235 in Canadian currency, rubber candy moulds in various shapes, scales, as well as drug packaging and other drug paraphernalia.

A 39-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman are facing multiple drug trafficking, weapons, and firearms-related charges as a result of the investigation, both of whom have been released on undertakings, Saydak said. He told reporters that both individuals were previously known to police.

The investigation began after the police service’s drug enforcement unit became aware of fentanyl trafficking in the West Broadway neighbourhood in September, the WPS says. The man and woman were arrested on Sept. 24 as a result of the investigation and police say that at the time of arrest the man was found to be in possession of nearly 38 grams of candy moulded fentanyl with an estimated street value of $15,080. Saydak said the search warrant was carried out after the arrest.

Saydak stressed the danger of fentanyl, saying “you never know how much is in there” when it is pressed into “designer candies.”

“A good rule of thumb is not to touch it or ingest it at all,” Saydak said. “It could be potentially very, very lethal to anybody that takes it or even comes into contact with it.”

Police are warning the public to not touch or use any such products and to report them to the WPS non emergency line, or call 911 if a medical crisis arises.