Police bust St. James fentanyl operation

Winnipeg police seized an ounce of pure fentanyl valued at approximately $22,400 from asuiteon Strauss Drive on Monday.

"This is the type of powder where just a grain or two can kill someone,"police spokesperson Const. Jay Murray said Tuesday.

Officers from the specially trainedclandestine unit dealt with the potentially deadly opioid.

Murray said a single ounce of concentrated fentanylcan be diluted to make 100 ounces.

In addition to the pure fentanyl, officersseized an ounce of dilutedfentanyl, marijuana, cash and a fake handgun.

Investigators believethese arrests and the seized items are related to drug trafficking within the city.

A 32-year-old man and a woman, 35, are in custodyfacing numerous drug charges. The man was "well known to police" according to Murray.

"The threatthat fentanyl providesto the communityremainsa priority for the Winnipeg Police Service," Murray said. Headded the number of incidents involving fentanylhas remained steady.