Arrest, drug seizure in Langley likely linked to fatal Surrey overdoses: RCMP

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — An arrest in Langley Thursday afternoon resulted in the seizure of drugs that mounties say are likely linked to recent fatal overdoses in Surrey, according to RCMP.

A 19-year-old man was “intercepted and arrested” around 2 p.m. in the area of 200 Avenue and 72 Street.

“During the arrest our officers located and seized multiple doses of suspected blue and purple fentanyl, crystal meth, as well as crack cocaine. They also seized items consistent with drug trafficking,” says Cpl. Elenore Sturko.

“What is important for the public to know is that we do believe that the drugs seized today are associated to some recent drug overdoses in our city and it’s believed that blue and purple fentanyl is potentially lethal and we are warning drug users against the consumption of this drug.”

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Sturko explains an earlier warning was issued after three people died from overdoses. Those three people died in different parts of the city — two inside homes and one in a stairwell.

“What this really points to and what we want people to know, is that addictions and the potential for overdoses doesn’t have barriers, it doesn’t distinguish whether you have a high income or a low income, whether you are housed or homeless — you can be affected by this. We really need to make sure that everyone in our city is aware that we have a potentially dangerous drug in the community right now,” she tells NEWS 1130.

The arrest, Sturko explains, does not mean the deadly drugs have been taken off the streets.

“The way that drug trafficking works is that there can be multiple people trafficking in similar networks. So there is a potential that there is more of these substances on the street, this potentially lethal blue and purple fentanyl. That is why we are going public with this information,” Sturko says.

“If you do use, if you must use, do not use alone. Keep Narcan nearby and call for help at the first sign of distress.”