Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit seizes unusual fentanyl products, charges man
Police have charged a man and seized multiple packages containing presumptive fentanyl, including substances with uncommon colours, textures and consistencies.
As part of an ongoing investigation, officers with the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (PCISCEU) learned that fentanyl purchased on the dark web was being transported into Pictou County. Over several days in mid-August, PICSCEU officers intercepted the packages.
When officers conducted preliminary field tests on the substances in the packages, the results were positive for fentanyl despite the substances having appearances inconsistent with other fentanyl products police have seen recently.
- One item seized was a black substance with a clay-like consistency and a sweet smell.
- Another package contained a pink substance that was both in chunks and powdered; the chunks have a hard texture.
- A third item was a light brown, chalk-like substance.
In total, the packages seized contained over 50 grams of presumptive fentanyl. The substances will undergo further testing by Health Canada to confirm the presumptive results.
Jake Bruce Murphy, 35, of Three Brooks, was arrested on August 18. He is charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (fentanyl) (two counts) and Failure to Comply with Probation Order. He had a first court appearance at Pictou Provincial Court on August 19 and remains in custody pending future court appearances.
The Antigonish Guysborough Street Crime Enforcement Unit, Pictou County General Investigation Section, and the Nova Scotia RCMP Legal Applications Support Team have supported the ongoing investigation.
Any overdose involving fentanyl, opioids, or other substances is a medical emergency. Under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, people who experience or witness an overdose and call 911 are protected from being charged with possession of a controlled substance and breach of conditions regarding simple possession of controlled substances.
More information about overdoses is available from Nova Scotia Health.
Note: PCISCEU includes officers from Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service, and Stellarton Police Service.
