Chief Manak’s Statement on Seizure“This significant seizure of high concentration fentanyl comes in the midst of a provincial opioid crisis. Over 1,000 people have died in illicit drug deaths in British Columbia in 2020. Many of these deaths are the result of toxic drugs, like fentanyl, circulating in our community. This crisis affects people from all walks of life, across all socioeconomic groups. It reaches into our high schools and into our homes. It kills our families and our friends. Make no mistake, we at VicPD join with police departments across B.C. in advocating for a safe supply for those who are living with addiction. This seizure supports those efforts. The targeted enforcement of drug traffickers associated to organized crime groups in our community is an important step in combatting the unsafe supply of these toxic drugs, ending the public health emergency, and saving lives.” Dr. Richard Stanwick’s Statement on Seizure“The action by Victoria Police serves to bring focus to the other public health emergency happening in British Columbia, and our community is not spared. To provide a perspective on the gravity of the local situation, we are extending our toxic Drug Alert for a second week for Victoria. Even more grim is that we tragically lose as many people to overdose in a single week on Vancouver Island than the total number of lives claimed since March by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the pandemic has likely contributed to the resurgence in overdose deaths compared to last year.” About Strike Force:Strike Force is a focused investigative unit in the Victoria Police Department. Strike Force officers use cutting-edge investigative techniques including clandestine surveillance, undercover operations and confidential information to identify, target and arrest some of the most dangerous offenders in Victoria and Esquimalt. Strike Force officers are focused on getting fentanyl and guns off our streets. Many Strike Force investigations are sparked by tips from people worried about guns and drugs like fentanyl.Strike Force relies on tips from the public. If you have information about drug trafficking or firearms in our community, you can call the Strike Force line directly at (250) 995-7260. -30-
