Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region is warning the public of a dangerous substance that was seized in St. John’s on December 17, 2024. On January 30, 2025, a drug analysis, completed by Health Canada, confirmed the substance as mixture of fentanyl and medetomidine, a highly-potent Central Nervous System Depressant tranquilizer, intended for veterinary use.
On December 17, 2024, as part of an ongoing RCMP investigation, RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region and the RCMP Emergency Response Team, along with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s Weapons and Drug Enforcement Unit, arrested 39-year-old Joseph Reardon for drug trafficking on the parking lot of a commercial property on Frecker Drive in St. John’s. Following his arrest, a vehicle on the parking lot was searched. Police located and seized cocaine, oxycodone, methylphenidate, a quantity of suspected fentanyl and a sawed-off shot gun.
A laboratory report received on January 30, 2025, confirmed the substance as a mixture of fentanyl and medetomidine. According to Health Canada, this is a first-time seizure of medetomidine in this province. Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer approved for surgical use in animals and is not safe for human consumption. Mixing this substance with fentanyl, which on its own is highly potent and dangerous, makes this an extremely lethal combination.
An image of the fentanyl/medetomidine mixture that was seized is attached. It is possible that there is more of this substance present in the province. Drug users should make themselves familiar with this substance and avoid consumption.
As a result of this investigation, Reardon is charged with the following criminal offences:
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking oxycodone
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking methylphenidate
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl
- Careless use of a firearm – two counts
- Unsafe storage of a firearm – two counts
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – four counts
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
- Possession of a prohibited firearm
- Possession of a weapon obtained by crime
- Removing a serial number from a firearm
- Possession of a firearm/ammunition while prohibited – six counts
- Breach of a court release order – five counts
Those who choose to use opioids or other dangerous substances should never do so alone and should plan and prepare for opioid overdose by carrying a Naloxone kit. Please call 811 to find your nearest location for a free naloxone kit or visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/naloxonekits/.
If you have information on fentanyl or other illicit or dangerous opioids, RCMP NL’s Federal Policing – Eastern Region wants to hear from you. To report information, please call 709-772-5422.
RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region targets criminal activity involving national security, transnational and serious organized crime and cybercrime throughout the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.