Prince George police have seized hundreds of pills and other illicit substances, including suspected fentanyl, cocaine, methadone, contraband cigarettes and illegal weapons in a crackdown on drug trafficking outside a pharmacy.
On Tuesday, two people who appeared to be actively dealing drugs outside a local pharmacy were stopped by the RCMP, leading to the large seizure of suspected illegal goods.
The seizure comes just days after a leaked B.C. Ministry of Health document revealed investigations into alleged diversion of safe-supply opioids dispensed by pharmacies in the province.
The leaked PowerPoint presentation from a ministry investigative unit confirmed widespread diversion of safer-supply opioids to the black market, with trafficking reported at “provincial, national, and international” levels.
The investigative unit – established before last October’s provincial election and prior to the U.S. reelection of President Donald Trump – said a “significant portion” of opioids prescribed in the province are being diverted. It further outlined a plan to target “specific pharmacies” in its operations.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer with the Prince George RCMP, said of the bust: “As part of an ongoing investigation, our police officers were actively engaged in watching for any type of drug trafficking-related activity outside of local pharmacies when they observed the male and female complete what appeared to be hand-to-hand transactions.”
“The pair was stopped and a search incidental to their arrest revealed an assortment of suspected pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs,” Cooper continued.
RCMP announced the suspects have been released, pending an investigation.