Fake oxycodone could cause overdoses, police say

Police say they have seized counterfeit oxycodone pills in Chestermere.

Calgary officers and the RCMP searched a vehicle in Chestermere and found close to 10,000 pills in a hidden compartment.

Acting Insp.Tom Hanson said the pills contained caffeine and a drug called fentanyl.

"This isn't being manufactured by a legitimate pharmacy or pharmaceutical manufacturing company. It's manufactured in this form by clandestine labs and it's designed specifically to look like oxycontin,when in fact it's fentanyl," he said.

Fentanyl is a very strong opiate. Hanson said people could overdose if they are used to taking oxycodone.

A 29-year-old man is charged with possession for trafficking.