Cops warn of fatal new drug making rounds
Fredericton Police Force seized “greenish, rock-like substance” last month that appears to pose higher risk of deadly overdoses and seems to be resistant to usual treatment method
The Fredericton Police Force says officers have come across what appears to be a new street drug that poses a greater risk of overdose and doesn’t respond to standard treatment.
The force issued a news release Wednesday to warn the public about a dangerous new drug that its integrated enforcement unit seized March 12 in a bust on the city’s south side.
“The initial arrest led to the seizure of 52.73 grams of fentanyl, including a greenish, rock-like substance that was part of the drugs tested,” the release said.
“Laboratory analysis confirmed that this substance poses severe risks of complex, life-threatening effects that may not respond to standard overdose treatment.”
The drug in question is called protodesnitazene.
The police force said no overdoses have been linked to it thus far, and it may still make its way into the drug scene in Fredericton.
“Police are urging drug users to use extreme caution,” the release said.
The force reminded the public that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people from legal repercussions in instances in which they provide emergency support during overdoses.
It said Fredericton police officers have responded to 15 overdose calls so far in 2025, matching the number from the same period last year.
However, there’s been an increase in the number of overdose calls to which the Fredericton Fire Department has responded in 2025, with a total of 41 thus far, up from 33 from the same timeframe in 2024, the release said.
The city police force handled 109 overdose calls in 2024, it said, while the fire department dealt with a total of 191 last year.
Those statistics indicate how many of those calls involved fatal overdoses as opposed to ones in which the individuals recovered.
The Fredericton Police Force previously reported that as a result of the March 12 drug fentanyl seizure, officers arrested a 42-year-old man.
He was released on conditions with a promise to appear in court next month, when he’s expected to face a charge of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.