logo
Lethbridge police seize gummy bear-shaped fentanyl

Lethbridge police seize gummy bear-shaped fentanyl

Global News16-07-2025
In June 2023, Lethbridge police discovered what appeared to be candy shaped like a teddy bear — but upon further inspection, it turned out to be fentanyl.
Following the incident, officers said the drug was not seen in that shape on Lethbridge streets again — until this month.
'We located a substantial amount of these gummy bears that are fentanyl that someone had obviously been producing,' said acting Sgt. Justin Brizinello of the Lethbridge police downtown unit.
On July 9, police say, officers arrested two Lethbridge residents for outstanding warrants and, upon arrest, various drugs were found. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
'A search warrant was then later done to the residence they were staying at and police ended up seizing 3,700 doses of drugs,' said Brizinello.
Story continues below advertisement
He says it's a large drug bust that helps keep dangerous contraband off the street.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'A normal dose for someone on the street would be 0.1 grams and we're in the realm of approximately 490 grams at this point, so a substantial amount.'
However, he says it's quite concerning to see the gummy bear-shaped drug return to Lethbridge.
'The concerning part is that someone like a young child could get a hold of it thinking that it is candy.'
This fact is not lost on parents in the city.
'We have gone through that with our kids, you know, not touching anything that is foreign to you,' said Jeff Mclellan.
The father, who was out at the park with his four-year-old daughter, says the new trend of drugs is downright alarming.
'I grew up here my whole life in Lethbridge and we never had to deal with anything like this,' he said. '
'When I was a kid, I don't think I was really taught that because it wasn't needed, but nowadays it is.'
Global News spoke with several other residents who also expressed concern for the new variant of the deadly drug.
Story continues below advertisement
'That's why we're wanting to release this and just show this is out there. It's concerning for us that, if it's in the parks, Galt Gardens, spray parks, where families play, that dosage of fentanyl in that little gummy bear could lead to an overdose or potentially death,' said Brizinello.
As a result, police are advising residents to not pick up anything unknown from the ground, even if it looks innocent. They say it's safer to just call it in.
'We would rather come seize that rather than the public actually put their hands on that and potentially ingest it.'
He says it's especially crucial to have these conversations with your children because of the extreme danger posed by fentanyl.
'Fentanyl can be deadly too, not just by ingesting it, but also just by touching it too,' said Brizinello.
In total, officers seized over $84,000 worth of drugs and cash proceeds of crime.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Youths charged in ‘racially motived assault' against adults and 2 children: Halifax RCMP
Youths charged in ‘racially motived assault' against adults and 2 children: Halifax RCMP

Global News

time4 minutes ago

  • Global News

Youths charged in ‘racially motived assault' against adults and 2 children: Halifax RCMP

Halifax RCMP say two youths have been charged in connection with a 'racially motivated assault' at a Cole Harbour rec centre parking lot after a man was sprayed with an irritant. According to police, three youths followed a man, a woman and two children from the rec centre, on Forest Hills Parkway, to the parking lot on Monday just before 5 p.m. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The youths shouted obscenities and racially motivated hate speech before one of the youths sprayed an irritant in the man's face,' RCMP allege in a Thursday news release. 'Once police were called, the youths fled on foot.' Two of the three youths were arrested the next day while RCMP were assisting Halifax Regional Police with another call in Dartmouth. 'A can of sensory irritant was seized,' RCMP added. Story continues below advertisement Both youths are facing charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, as well as assault with a weapon. One is also charged with failing to comply with a release order. Both of them appeared in youth court on Wednesday and have since been released with conditions.

3 people dead in Maple Ridge incident, investigation underway
3 people dead in Maple Ridge incident, investigation underway

Global News

time35 minutes ago

  • Global News

3 people dead in Maple Ridge incident, investigation underway

See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Three people are dead following an incident in Maple Ridge, B.C., overnight. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C., which investigates police-involved incidents, said officers have been called to a home on 239th Street and 118A Avenue. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The agency said the initial investigation found that the first person appears to have died from a self-inflicted wound around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. When police arrived, two other people were also found dead, the agency said. Two burned-out vehicles sit in front of one of the houses that is behind police tape on Thursday morning. No other information has been released.

Security cameras in washrooms at Quebec mall raise privacy concerns
Security cameras in washrooms at Quebec mall raise privacy concerns

Global News

time2 hours ago

  • Global News

Security cameras in washrooms at Quebec mall raise privacy concerns

Shoppers at a downtown Montreal shopping mall say they were caught off guard when they realized they were being caught on camera inside the washrooms. 'I was about to wash my hands and I look up and I'm like… uhh, what? That's not OK. You can't do that,' Madighan Antsui said of her experience inside the restroom at Place Dupuis Complex Tuesday. 'It's right beside, in front of a stall, the big handicap stall, it's here and then all the stalls. So it looks like it's pointing in the stalls.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Her partner went inside the men's room and noticed a matching camera inside before they spoke to a security guard in the mall. They say the guard told them he's 'allowed to watch.' Mall management issued a statement to Global News that said the security cameras do not point into the stalls but are directed at the sinks. It also noted that signage has also been posted that informs shoppers that the cameras are present. Story continues below advertisement It added that since the cameras were installed a year ago, provincial authorities have been to the washrooms multiple times to ensure they are compliant with privacy laws. Lawyer Julius Grey told Global News that while the cameras are not illegal, there are stringent rules surrounding their use in spaces such as these. 'The recordings must be highly confidential, must be watched and destroyed quickly and nothing in those recordings other than the crimes you're looking to discover should ever be leaked to the public,' he said. Global News reached out to the security company for reaction but it declined to comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store