The Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, with assistance of other investigtive units, have seized illegally manufactured fentanyl pills.

In a news release police describe the seizure of 1,814 pills as significant. They say the pills have presumptively tested positive for fentanyl and samples have been sent to Health Canada for confirmatory analysis. The seizure of these pills confirms that drugs are appearing in different forms as in pressed and powder.

Saskatoon Police Service, with the city in the midst of an overdose crisis, have been investigating where the pills are coming from. Saskatoon has more than doubled overdoses in March compared to last year and this week the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre was activated. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency will partner with the City of Saskatoon and the Ministry of Health to activate the PEOC, which was first established in 2021 to centralize and lead the response to COVID-19.

Prairie Harm Reduction issued a Drug Alert on social media, saying they continue to test drugs and the latest show 30 per cent fentanyl. These illicit drugs are usually around 15 per cent.

The Saskatoon Police Service also reminds residents of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act with provides some legal protection for those who or experience or witness an overdose and seek emergency help.