Police seek New Year’s Eve drug suspect
City police force credits 911 call about possible drunk driver with narcotics seizure
The Fredericton Police Force is working to identify a suspect in a significant drug bust that came about because someone called 911 about a possible impaired driver New Year’s Eve.
The force issued a news release Wednesday about a Dec. 31 response that led to the discovery of a drug stash.
“On the evening of Dec. 31, 2024, the Fredericton Police Force (FPF) patrol division initiated a traffic stop in response to a call about a suspected impaired driver,” the release said.
“The vehicle fled from police and was later located, abandoned, during patrols.”
The driver fled on foot, police reported, and the RCMP’s police-dog services unit was called in to aid in the search for the suspect.
That individual wasn’t found, the release said, but the police dog led officers to an abandoned bookbag, found to contain illicit items.
Among them were 425 grams of methamphetamine, 21.6 grams of fentanyl, 203 Ice (speed) pills, 57 hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills and $730 in Canadian cash.
“The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately $23,000,” the release said.
The police force credited community vigilance for the drug seizure.
“The initial call about a suspected impaired driver led to the discovery of a large quantity of drugs, preventing them from reaching our streets,” the release said, urging residents to be alert and to report suspicious activity. “If you see something, say something.”
In addition to emergency calls to 911, people can crimes by calling the Fredericton Police Force non-emergency line at 506-460-2300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.
Reports can also be made online on the City of Fredericton website at this link.
The Dec. 31 incident remains under investigation, the release said, as officers work to identify the driver.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.