BRANT COUNTY — OPP said a man is facing drug charges after a significant amount of fentanyl was found during a routine traffic stop by officers in St George.
Health Canada tested and confirmed the Substance recovered was approximately 17 grams of Fentanyl.
Police have arrested and charged 40-year-old Brenden MURPHY of Cambridge.
Police say the amount of fentanyl confiscated was a risk to public safety — and enough of the dangerous opioid to give a lethal dose to thousands.
Inspector Lisa Anderson, Brant County Detachment Commander said in a statement that.”To put the impact of this seizure on public safety into context, 17g of fentanyl is enough quantity of this drug to provide a lethal dose to 68,000 people. Focusing on harm reduction, those who participate in the purchase of illicit drugs must be aware of the presence of fentanyl in our community and the risks they are taking when purchasing illicit drugs. Public safety and awareness must be a priority for everyone when it comes to fentanyl in our communities.”
OPP say the high risk to public safety is inherent when police make a fentanyl seizure of this size in a community.
In an emailed statement to press OPP said “Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. Just 0.25 mg can kill an adult. For perspective, a baby aspirin tablet is 81 mg. If you cut that tablet into 324 pieces each piece would be approximately 0.25 mg.”\Murphy will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brantford at a later date to answer to his charges.
