fentanyl

Ravin Dugas was sentenced Jan. 6, 2023, to six years in jail less time served after he was caught in possession of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, as well as a loaded prohibited handgun on Dec. 4, 2019. (Caitlin Clow - Morning Star)

Vernon fentanyl dealer caught with prohibited handgun sentenced to 6 years

Minus time already served in custody, Ravin Dugas will serve another 39 months behind bars

 

Dave Laboucane was on suboxone when becoming clean earlier this year but returned to Kelowna’s Tent City and suffered severe burns in a fire attempting to keep his tent warm in the cold weather. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

“There is help out there”: Kelowna burn victim identified as man with 22-year troubled past

Another example of Kelowna’s homeless population and the province’s ongoing drug crisis

 

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has approved charges against six alleged B.C. drug traffickers. Three of them remain at large, including Roger Bardales Medina (left), Joseph Lowley and Diego Saed. (Photos courtesy of CFSEU-BC)

6 B.C. men charged with trafficking drugs through Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

All believed to be aligned with Wolfpack gang

 

Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media

B.C. mom runs daily marathon in front of health ministry office after son dies of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky wants change after her son died of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media
No deaths this year from toxic illicit drugs in Revelstoke. (Metro Creative Stock)

No toxic illicit drug deaths this year in Revelstoke amidst ongoing crisis in B.C.

With no deaths, the report shows improvement from a year ago

No deaths this year from toxic illicit drugs in Revelstoke. (Metro Creative Stock)
Helen Jennens’ urn that holds the ashes of her two sons, Rian and Tyler. (submitted)

‘It’s in every neighbourhood’: Mother speaks out on toxic drug crisis in Okanagan

Helen Jennens lost both her sons to toxic drugs

  • Aug 24, 2022
Helen Jennens’ urn that holds the ashes of her two sons, Rian and Tyler. (submitted)
A file photo shows bags of illicit drugs seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vancouver police seized 73 kilograms of drugs from Lower Mainland gangs during Project Tint in July 2022. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration photo)

Police make $8M drug bust, 2 arrests related to B.C. gang activity

73 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine seized

A file photo shows bags of illicit drugs seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vancouver police seized 73 kilograms of drugs from Lower Mainland gangs during Project Tint in July 2022. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration photo)
A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)

Alleged B.C. fentanyl trafficker charged in connection with U.S. Navy deaths

Vancouver man believed to operate an international dark web drug and money laundering organization

A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)
Statue of Lady Justice at B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster

B.C. drug dealer gets federal time for selling $15 flap that contained fentanyl

Milad Faud Herbert sentenced to two years plus one day in prison

Statue of Lady Justice at B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster
A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)

Take-home fentanyl tests could increase safer drug consumption in B.C.: study

2019 Vancouver study found 30% of participants made safer choices after using take-home test

A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)
Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘Do the police need to carry little scales?’: Nelson’s top cop questions decriminalization enforcement

Chief Donovan Fisher says there’s been no direction given to police

Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, the NDP’s critic for mental health and harm reduction, is pictured in Ottawa with members of the Mom’s Stop the Harm advocacy group. Photo supplied

B.C. MP vows to keep fighting, despite toxic drug crisis bill rejection

Courtenay-Alberni MP’s Bill C-216 aimed to legislate health-based approach to substance use

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, the NDP’s critic for mental health and harm reduction, is pictured in Ottawa with members of the Mom’s Stop the Harm advocacy group. Photo supplied
Dhatt was sentenced in the Kelowna Supreme Court (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Brain-injured man sentenced to house arrest for Kelowna drug dealing

Arman Dhatt suffered an aneurysm after being arrested for possession with intent to traffic

Dhatt was sentenced in the Kelowna Supreme Court (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
This graph shows the increase in Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in all health authorities in B.C., based on data provided by the BC Coroners Service. (BC Centre for Disease Control image)

‘Everyone’s best friend’ dies from toxic drugs in Salmon Arm, sister lobbies for safe drug supply

Family, health-care professionals see removing stigma of addictions also key to saving lives

This graph shows the increase in Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in all health authorities in B.C., based on data provided by the BC Coroners Service. (BC Centre for Disease Control image)
A large quantity of drugs, including fentanyl, were discovered on a wanted person by an alert RCMP officer in Vernon recently. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP photo)

Wanted man arrested with fentanyl, meth, cocaine, weapons in Vernon

Alert RCMP officer recognized the individual and discovered large quantity of street drugs

A large quantity of drugs, including fentanyl, were discovered on a wanted person by an alert RCMP officer in Vernon recently. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP photo)
Victoria police seized $30 million in fentanyl, drugs, cash and firearms during Project Juliet in 2020. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

Three men charged related to 2020 drug busts in BC Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island

Project Juliet saw the seizure of fentanyl, drugs, cash, firearms valued at $30 million

Victoria police seized $30 million in fentanyl, drugs, cash and firearms during Project Juliet in 2020. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)

B.C. anti-gang unit seizes 9 kg of ‘potentially deadly’ fentanyl

The bust was the end of a 10-month drug trafficking investigation into Lower Mainland criminals with ties to gang activity

A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)
British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Toxic drug crisis disproportionately killing B.C.’s First Nations people

First Nations Health Authority reports First Nations people killed at more than five times B.C. rate

British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)
Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Police seize 13 million ‘potentially fatal doses’ of pure fentanyl at B.C. drug lab

The evidence was seized at large, illicit drug manufacturing site in Port Coquitlam

Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
An alert has been issued in #Kelowna for white and beige powdered substances. (Interior Health)

Drug alert issued for Kelowna and West Kelowna

Powdered substances are being sold as fentanyl and may contain fentanyl and benzos

An alert has been issued in #Kelowna for white and beige powdered substances. (Interior Health)
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