London police issue warning after suspected purple fentanyl seized

A public warning has been issued after police seized a purple substance that may contain the deadly opioidfentanyl.

London police were called to a parking lot in the area of Highbury Avenue and Cheapside Street at about 9 a.m. Monday following a report of two males sleeping inside a vehicle. Upon arrival, police say they located the suspect vehicle withtwo men inside, along withillegal narcotics in plain view.

The narcotics seized included11.5 grams of fentanyl powder,28 grams of cocaine and 3 grams of asubstance suspected to be 'purple fentanyl'. The 'play dough' like substance has been sent to a lab to be tested for narcotics.

Police in neighbouring jurisdictions have reported seizinga similar substance that contain a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, or the more deadly opioidcarfentanil.

"The danger in coming into contact withfentanyl, or the strongercarfentanyl, is the strong potential for overdose,"Cst. Josh Kenny toldCBCNews.

"It takes a very, very small amount of those substances to harm somebody."

London police are warning the public to avoid contact with these substancesas they can lead to an overdosevia inhalation, ingestion, and injection.

"If anyone sees something similar that they suspect might be this 'purple fentanyl', or anything that they might suspect is fentanyl or carfentanyl, I would not touch it," said Cst. Kenny.

"Call London police and we'll deal with it appropriately."

Two men are facing charges in relation to Monday's incident, including two countsof possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking. The driver of the vehicle is also facing a charge of care and control of a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs.

Anyone with information related to the case is beingasked to call the London Police Service at 519-661-5670, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent in on-line anonymously to www.londoncrimestoppers.com.