Sarnia Police Service officials allege: During the months of September and October, 2022, the Sarnia Police Vice Unit conducted a drug investigation involving individuals suspected of trafficking large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and crystal methamphetamine.
On October 12, 2022, the Vice Unit with the assistance of the Emergency Response team executed a search warrant on two separate residences, one in the 200 block of Devine Street and the second residence in the 100 block of Martin Street.
This took place just after 10 p.m.
As a result four individuals were taken into custody and the following items were located:
– Martin Street address: 16.27 grams of fentanyl, value $2,847 (the fentanyl had been pressed into molds resembling figures which has never been seen by Vice officers), 494.16 grams of crystal methamphetamine, value $24,708, 3,041.75 grams of fresh cannabis marihuana, value $3417.50, 47 cannabis-infused edibles, value $1,000, $510 in Canadian Currency
– Devine Street address: 31 grams of fentanyl, value $5425 (the fentanyl had been pressed into molds resembling figures which has never been seen by Vice officers), 137.75 grams of crystal methamphetamine, value $6,887, 98 Dilaudid 8 mg hydromorphone pills, value $1,350, 31 Tec Codeine pills, value $155, $585 in Canadian currency
The total street value of currency and controlled substances seized was $73,885.25
A 41-year-old Sarnia man, a 36-year-old Sarnia man, a 65-year-old Sarnia man and 58-year-old Sarnia man each face multiple drug charges.
It is uncertain at this time why the fentanyl has been molded into these shapes.
Various reasons do come to mind such as marketing the substance, creating an ID for the brand, or to disguise the substance as something less dangerous.
Disguising fentanyl as something innocuous, such as cartoon characters, creates safety concerns if the fentanyl is mistaken for something less deadly or if in the hands of children it may be mistaken for candy.
