Prisoner facing charges after Sarnia Jail drug bust

A man using the washroom at the Sarnia Jail, where he was being held on drug charges, is alleged to have removed a “package from his person” holding 4.2 grams of a suspected drug cocktail known as “purple fentanyl.”

Sarnia police said it is alleged to have been observed by corrections officers Nov. 19 at the jail, where the 21-year-old man was being held following his arrest Nov. 16 as part of an investigation of fentanyl trafficking from a residence in the 700 block of Roger Street. “Obviously, you’re on camera while you’re in there and they observed him removing something suspicious,” said Sarnia police Const. Giovanni Sottosanti. “They immediately acted on it and they were able to find that package.”

Sarnia police were contacted by jail staff to investigate. It’s alleged the man was attempting to discard the package in the toilet, police said.

The suspected “purple fentanyl” had a street value police estimated at $2,100.

Purple fentanyl is a name for a “cocktail” that can include morphine, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs, Sottosanti said.

“It has been coming on the market more and more recently,” he said.

Police said the man now faces additional charges.

His initial arrest came while vice unit officers were watching a residence they had a search warrant for and saw a suspect leaving a vehicle in the parking lot. Police said the man was arrested and it’s alleged two women were found smoking fentanyl in the vehicle. They were arrested and charged with drug possession. When the residence was searched, it’s alleged officers found a bottle of methadone, approximately 3.25 grams of suspected fentanyl powder with a street value estimated at $1,550 and $1,430 in cash. Police said a warrant has been issued for a 44-year-old woman also wanted on drug charges in connection to the investigation. Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact police headquarters at 519-344-8861 or Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers.