Edmonton police seize thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as Xanax

Edmonton police issued a dire warning Wednesday after the gang unitseized more than 3,700 pills, thought to be a variant of the deadlyopioidfentanyl, disguised as the mild pharmaceutical tranquilizer Xanax.

"Police continue to findfentanyland itsanalogsin various forms, including illicit pills designed to look like prescription medication," said Staff Sgt. PierreBlaiswith theEdmonton Drug and Gang Section.

"People who use street drugs must understand that they may not be ingesting what they think they are, which could lead to serious harm or even death."

The stash of pills was uncovered on Sept. 20 when officers with the drug and gang unit launched a co-ordinated raid on four Edmonton properties and one vehicle.

During the bust, police searched two properties in Windermere, one in the MacEwan neighbourhood and another in the Davies Industrial area, police said in a statement on Wednesday.

They may not be ingesting what they think they are.- Staff Sgt PierreBlais

The fake Xanax pills have an approximate street value of more than $151,000, police said.

Officers also seized more than 900 grams of ketamine, an animal tranquilizer, with an approximate street value of $29,250, along with 355 grams of MDMA, more than 200 grams of cocaine and375 gramsof the pain-killer Phenacetin.

Police also recovered $12,600 in cash.

When the investigation began in March,officers initially focused on one Edmonton man, police said. But during the months-long investigation, three additional suspects and four addresses within the city were identified.

Four people, all in theirmid-20s, now face a combined 23 charges, including drug trafficking and possession.