fentanyl

Dave Laboucane was on suboxone when becoming clean earlier this year but returned to Kelowna’s Tent City and suffered severe burns in a fire attempting to keep his tent warm in the cold weather. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

“There is help out there”: Kelowna burn victim identified as man with 22-year troubled past

Another example of Kelowna’s homeless population and the province’s ongoing drug crisis

 

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has approved charges against six alleged B.C. drug traffickers. Three of them remain at large, including Roger Bardales Medina (left), Joseph Lowley and Diego Saed. (Photos courtesy of CFSEU-BC)

6 B.C. men charged with trafficking drugs through Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

All believed to be aligned with Wolfpack gang

 

Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media

B.C. mom runs daily marathon in front of health ministry office after son dies of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky wants change after her son died of drug poisoning

 

A file photo shows bags of illicit drugs seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vancouver police seized 73 kilograms of drugs from Lower Mainland gangs during Project Tint in July 2022. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration photo)

Police make $8M drug bust, 2 arrests related to B.C. gang activity

73 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine seized

A file photo shows bags of illicit drugs seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vancouver police seized 73 kilograms of drugs from Lower Mainland gangs during Project Tint in July 2022. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration photo)
A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)

Alleged B.C. fentanyl trafficker charged in connection with U.S. Navy deaths

Vancouver man believed to operate an international dark web drug and money laundering organization

A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)
A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)

Take-home fentanyl tests could increase safer drug consumption in B.C.: study

2019 Vancouver study found 30% of participants made safer choices after using take-home test

A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, the NDP’s critic for mental health and harm reduction, is pictured in Ottawa with members of the Mom’s Stop the Harm advocacy group. Photo supplied

Gord Johns vows to keep fighting, despite toxic drug crisis bill rejection

Courtenay-Alberni MP’s Bill C-216 aimed to legislate health-based approach to substance use

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, the NDP’s critic for mental health and harm reduction, is pictured in Ottawa with members of the Mom’s Stop the Harm advocacy group. Photo supplied
Victoria police seized $30 million in fentanyl, drugs, cash and firearms during Project Juliet in 2020. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

Three men charged related to 2020 drug trafficking busts in Victoria, Lower Mainland

Project Juliet saw the seizure of fentanyl, drugs, cash, firearms valued at $30 million

Victoria police seized $30 million in fentanyl, drugs, cash and firearms during Project Juliet in 2020. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
Most illicit drug toxicity deaths in B.C. from 2017-2020 contained fentanyl. File photo

Story Walks illustrated extent of toxic drug crisis in Comox Valley and other communities

In response to the toxic drug crisis that continues to ravage communities…

Most illicit drug toxicity deaths in B.C. from 2017-2020 contained fentanyl. File photo
The proceeds of an investigation into drug trafficking in Greater Victoria netted $22,000 cash, plus roughly $60,000 worth of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. (Photo courtesy VicPD)

Car, cash and drugs seized in Greater Victoria police investigation

Man arrested said to have connections to Lower Mainland organized crime

The proceeds of an investigation into drug trafficking in Greater Victoria netted $22,000 cash, plus roughly $60,000 worth of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. (Photo courtesy VicPD)
A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)

B.C. anti-gang unit seizes 9 kg of ‘potentially deadly’ fentanyl

The bust was the end of a 10-month drug trafficking investigation into Lower Mainland criminals with ties to gang activity

A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)
British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Toxic drug crisis disproportionately killing B.C.’s First Nations people

First Nations Health Authority reports First Nations people killed at more than five times B.C. rate

British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)
A Crofton man was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo earlier this month for drug-trafficking offences. (News Bulletin file photo)

Vancouver Island fentanyl dealer who knew buyers were overdosing sentenced to 3 years

Crofton man sentenced in Nanaimo this month

A Crofton man was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo earlier this month for drug-trafficking offences. (News Bulletin file photo)
A Crofton man was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo earlier this month for drug-trafficking offences. (News Bulletin file photo)

Crofton fentanyl dealer who knew buyers were overdosing sentenced to 3 years

Taygen Mitchell Edward Butler was arrested in 2018 after undercover operation

A Crofton man was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo earlier this month for drug-trafficking offences. (News Bulletin file photo)
Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Police seize 13 million ‘potentially fatal doses’ of pure fentanyl at B.C. drug lab

The evidence was seized at large, illicit drug manufacturing site in Port Coquitlam

Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Stephen Nutt, left, and mom Julia Mewhort. (Submitted photo)

Mom worries about treatment delays after son’s drug death in Parksville

Stephen Nutt died from fentanyl laced with methamphetamine and heroin while in supportive housing

Stephen Nutt, left, and mom Julia Mewhort. (Submitted photo)
Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe speaks during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Our View: The other epidemic in B.C. has claimed too many lives

New measures beyond simple enforcement have to change the playing field

  • Feb 22, 2021
Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe speaks during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Victoria police officers seized an assault-style rifle among other things during a double arrest Jan. 6. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

Fentanyl, loaded assault-style rifle lead to double arrest by Victoria police

Man and woman arrested Jan. 6 after police execute search warrant

Victoria police officers seized an assault-style rifle among other things during a double arrest Jan. 6. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
The Supreme Court of Canada is seen at sunset in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Supreme Court to examine minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking

The high court has agreed to jointly hear the appeals of two men who received stiffer penalties

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen at sunset in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Saanich police arrested two men and seized various illicit items during a search on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy the Saanich Police Department)

Police arrest two men, seize ‘potent’ purple fentanyl from Saanich suite

Loaded gun, cash also among items seized during search

Saanich police arrested two men and seized various illicit items during a search on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy the Saanich Police Department)