The Grande Prairie RCMP Drug Section, assisted by the Grande Prairie Crime Reduction Unit has seized several kilograms of drugs and related items after executing search warrants on properties in and around the city.
According to police, members of the Grande Prairie detachment executed simultaneous search warrants at a property in the area of Mountainview in the City of Grande Prairie, and a residence in Clairmont.
As a result of the bust, law enforcement seized 1.4 kilograms of cocaine, 991 grams of methamphetamine, three kilograms of “initially unknown” pills, 203 cartons of illicit cigarettes, one stolen revolver with ammunition, more than $27K in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
Now, 50-year-old Grande Prairie resident Andre Rozon faces 10 charges including alleged possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of Canadian currency over $5,000 as proceeds of crime, numerous firearms charges, four counts of failing to comply with the firearm prohibition order, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and possession of unstamped tobacco.
Rozon was brought before a justice of the peace and remains in custody before a scheduled court appearance set for January 13th.
RCMP Constable Luke Woodman took a moment to discuss the “initially unknown” pills that were found during the search, which were revealed to be the “highly potent” opioid isotonitazene.
“The pills seized in this case were round, yellow with a horizontal score line on one side and ‘TEC’ imprinted on the other,” he says. “Isotonitazene is estimated to have greater potency than fentanyl and has been associated with drug toxicity deaths in Alberta.”
According to Woodman, Nitazene-induced toxicity is “expected” to be reversed by naloxone or Narcan, but additional doses could be required over time.
