(The Canadian Press)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Prince Albert not impacted this year by Fentanyl related deaths

Jun 4, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Despite spikes in both Saskatoon and Regina this year related to deaths from Fentanyl overdoses, Prince Albert has so far been able to avoid the trend.

For the period ending June 2, the Saskatchewan’s Coroner’s Service is reporting nine deaths for Saskatoon, 29 in Regina, and 0 for Prince Albert.

This information comes on the heels of a recent drug seizure in the city involving quantities of Fentanyl and methamphetamine. For all of 2020, there were four deaths in Prince Albert linked to Fentanyl.

In comparison, Melfort, North Battleford and La Ronge have also had zero deaths linked this year to drug toxicity. Melfort and La Ronge each had one last year, while North Battleford recorded three.

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From Jan. 1 to May 31, Parkland Ambulance responded to 17 suspected narcotic overdoses.

It’s important to mention the ambulance services covers a wide area that includes Prince Albert, Shellbrook, St. Louis, Meath Park, Canwood, and Prince Albert National Park.

May’s crime statistics for Prince Albert will be discussed in greater detail during next week’s board of police commissioners meeting. However, according to April’s numbers, trafficking charges in 2021 represented a 47 per cent increase over the same period in 2020 — 25 versus 17.The top drugs in the city, based on the number of seizures, were meth (132) and cocaine (34).

A total of four people are facing charges in connection to the latest drug seizure, and two have been charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

One of the accused, Brandon Couillonneur, has a history of drug trafficking offenses in the city.

On May 15, 2019, members of the Prince Albert Police Service, in partnership with members from the Prince Albert RCMP detachment, searched a home in the 1900 block of 15th St. W.

Among the items seized was drug paraphernalia, two .22 calibre rifles, cash, and bear spray.

In November 2020, Couillonneur received a two year sentence for his role. As he was in custody since the incident, he did however receive a substantial amount of remand credit, and would therefore likely have been released not long before last Friday’s drug bust.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell