Increased seizures of Fentanyl cause CBC concerns

| 14/04/2022 | 44 Comments
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service

(CNS): Over the past ten weeks Customs and Border Control (CBC) has seized an increasing amount of class A drugs, including Fentanyl a dangerous and addictive synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. In total, 288 Fentanyl tablets, 6.95 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, 0.23 grams of cocaine base and eight oxymorphone tablets had been seized, fuelling concerns about the growth in illicit drug imports, especially Fentanyl.

CBC said in a release that it had also seized ganja concealed in luggage, ganja infused cigarettes and ganja edibles, including lollipops and other candy. There was no evidence that these were laced with anything stronger, the CBC said, though there have been cases in the past where milder forms of controlled drugs were seized and found to be infused or tainted with more lethal substances, including Fentanyl.

The CBC explained that during the last two months or so they had intercepted Fentanyl on two separate occasions, which has raised real concern for the law enforcement agency. Both cases are now being investigated.

“The recent trend involving the importation of illicitly produced Fentanyl is very worrying and cause for significant concern,” said CBC Director Charles Clifford. “We are continuing our efforts to intercept illegal drugs at our borders, but I fear that it is only a matter of time before Fentanyl is listed as the primary cause of death in some sudden death cases locally.”

The production, handling and consumption of Fentanyl can have deadly consequences as is indicated by the unprecedented number of Fentanyl-related sudden deaths in the US and Canada.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were well over 100,000 fatal drug overdoses in the US during a 12–month period ending April 2021. Users and handlers of Fentanyl have been known to experience symptoms such as hemorrhaging, severe physical pain and organ failure, which often lead to death.

“Illicit Fentanyl is produced in clandestine labs and is often mixed with other drugs such as cocaine and heroin,” said CBC Senior Deputy Director Bruce Smith. “This multiplies the danger and risk of sudden death from consuming it.” 

The CBC leadership said the public needed to understand that in addition to being illegal, this kind of drug use is associated with severe health and safety issues, exacerbated by the fact that it is often disguised in unassuming shapes and colours and manufactured in a variety of methods. Illicitly produced Fentanyl comes in many colours and forms, including tablet, powder, crystals and liquid.

CBC said that in addition to the danger posed to the health and safety of the general public, the welfare of law enforcement personnel at the border and elsewhere, who put themselves in harm’s way in the daily course of their duties, is also at risk.

Officials said that CBC investigations and frontline teams will continue their efforts and use all available means at their disposal to respond to threats at the Cayman Islands border. Part of this effort is a combined approach and an enduring partnership with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) in the fight against illegal substances, the CBC added.


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Category: Crime, Customs

Comments (44)

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  1. Loputelu says:

    The failed “war on drugs” is the reason that black market fentanyl is now so widespread. Even decent middle class cocaine users are now at risk of contamination which is disturbing.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    The drug of choice on WB road.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Too much different nationality is here and that’s the problem.they have to have somebody to blame except the real target.in the early seventies to the late nineties when it was only Jamaica, Honduran,cuban,Dominican coming here we didn’t have all that problem.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Maybe if our “Coast Guard” could download and read the manual for their 100nm radar, they could turn it on, illuminate all the clandestine trafficking, and intercept more than a handful of snitched token busts a year? Crazy ideas.

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    • They paved Paradise.... says:

      Radar not working for month. Drugs coming in. Government silent. Mmmmm?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Then you have CBC, a couple of days ago, checking all the luggage coming from the Brac domestic flight but letting the Honduras international flight pass through the nothing to declare line. Makes you wonder why in the world would they let that happen?

  5. Kaya says:

    Send home Johnny come lately and tell him to take his nasty S#@% with him. we know exactly who is bringing this dangerous crap here and who is buying and using it too.

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    • Anonymous says:

      5:28pm. The rich and famous high flying kites Money, deep pockets and feel good joy riders. Name them and shame them. Ship them out and cleanse our homestead.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Why pop a pill when you can fly a kite for a thrill?

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Can wait for him to blame the weed smokers for this

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Good work CBC. Fentanyl kills, simple! De-crimainalize weed!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    That Fentanyl is what’s behind the overdose explosion in the US. It’s hitting high-school kids mostly. And it comes from China. Deadly diseases,knock offs and drugs. Thank you China!

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  10. Elvis says:

    NO doubt sone of the local eedyats try it still

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  11. Anonymous says:

    More people means more drugs. Sad but true.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Keep that shit out of here!! Damn supplies will be tarnished forever if that gets into the chain

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  13. anon says:

    It would be helpful to the public if we were advised where these drugs were seized, was it in containers, in canoes from Jamaica, from passengers flying into ORIA, in incoming mail/parcels, or where?.

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    • who cares? says:

      Everything bad comes from Ja, nothing from your glorious USA, nothing from your religious Honduras or any other ‘great’ destination. You are so full of it.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Sadly, Cayman’s schools, hospitals, and police/EMS should all have Naloxone training and Narcan doses ready to administer at all times. Fentanyl is here.

    https://www.narcan.com

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    • Anonymous says:

      I work in a school in the US. We have narcon training each year and have narcon stored in 3 locations in the school just in case. If fentanyl is on the island, it may be a good idea to have the police, EMT, and schools to get trained and have it in every cruiser and in the schools. Sad, but true.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Natural selection is not a bad thing.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Nah…teenagers? Who cares… We only focus on triple vaxxed elderly not getting covid. Sad, but true. We only focus on everyone wearing face masks. Ridiculous, but true..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why?

  15. Anonymous says:

    It will soon be all over the news…these “snobby” corporate workers will be laced first.

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    • Anonymous says:

      14 @ 12:35pm – That’s a callous remark. They would be some mother’s child. Do you have children?

  16. Anonymous says:

    Middle/lower class incomes cannot afford these types of drugs. You have to have a budget to buy these here. Follow the money – who here would have the means to use these drugs all the time?

    Metallic polyn cards complete me.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Well, you couldn’t be more out of touch. It’s precisely because middle/lower class can afford fentanyl and other Chinese synthetics at <$5 a hit that there is an overdose epidemic across North America.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Crack is cheaper than beer and Meth can be made from items found in every single super market, general store and pharmacy on the island….

      I am still baffled its not in our community yet when alls that needs to happen is someone watch a You Tube video and $25 ‘for the ingredients.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Please don’t give people ideas. Yes, you are correct (technically), but wrong (morally). Social responsibility.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is nonsense. It is proven that predominantly lower income earners in the USA are dying from the fentanyl overdose pandemic in recent years as its a cheap hit and so strong and deadly.

    • Anonymous says:

      Drugs sold in Cayman arent sold as US prices so yes they will be more expensive here. You spend the same money here for a car as you would in the US? NO.

      All I am saying is check the WBR spots before assuming it must be locals. So many functioning coke heads working in camana bay

  17. Anonymous says:

    Horrible thing to say but those with the most severe addictions will probably be dead soon and those that like to play with it don’t. Hardcore drugs are so last week anyways.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Chuckles should be more worried about all the cannabis vapes surely?

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    • Concerned citizen says:

      Not saying vapes are not dangerous or addictive, but seriously, you cannot compare that to Fentanyl or Oxy.

    • Anonymous says:

      Oddly enough there have been marijuana vape pens seized in USA that were found to have been laced with fentanyl. Gummies, bubble gum too. Key takeaway being: don’t trust your drug dealer, and the gangs operating them, to be looking out for your health!

    • M.Forman says:

      Preach it mate! Mans with all the knock offs cartridges of fakes brands they buy for $15 back home and sell here for $200.

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