Saskatoon police seize large quantity of presumed fentanyl pills

The pills were seized by Saskatoon police’s drug unit on Wednesday and have presumptively tested positive for fentanyl. (Photo: Saskatoon Police Service).

As Saskatoon sees a jump in overdose cases in recent weeks, police say officers seized 1,814 illegally manufactured presumed fentanyl pills in the city.

The pills were seized by Saskatoon police’s drug unit on Wednesday and have presumptively tested positive for fentanyl, but police say samples have been sent to Health Canada for confirmation.

Saskatoon police say the seizure confirms that drugs are appearing in different forms. Police are reminding the public that these substances are dangerous.

“The public is reminded that any drug not prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist can result in serious injury or death,” Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) said in a news release.

For the last month, emergency crews have been responding to a spike in overdose calls as highly lethal drugs circulate in Saskatoon. Pills have also been flagged to be brown, pink and purple in colour.

According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, since Feb. 25, fire crews have responded to over 300 overdoses, including multiple suspicious deaths.

Symptoms of an overdose may include, but are not limited to, slow or no breathing; gurgling, gasping, or snoring; clammy and cool skin; blue lips or nails; and difficulty waking up or staying awake, according to police.

If you suspect someone may have experienced an overdose, call 911 immediately.