While they can’t reveal the exact details, RNC confirm a number of recent cases of people being hospitalized following the ingestion of illicit drugs.

The revelation comes following a warning from police about the possibility that cocaine is being cut with other drugs like fentanyl and horse tranquilizers which can be deadly, even in small amounts.

Operation Ragged, a drugs and weapons bust in the capital city area earlier this year, resulted in the seizure of cocaine, and 1000 non-pharmaceutical pills that police believe were being used to cut the cocaine.

RNC Constable James Cadigan says lab testing on the pills seized identified fentanyl, percocet, oxycodone, ketamine and a cutting agent known as phenacetin.

He says those substances are being used to increase the volume of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking. That, he says poses a very serious public safety concern, as any of those drugs can result in serious harm or even death.

James Cadigan spoke with VOCM’s Linda Swain. Listen below: