RCMP in the northern B.C. city of Prince George spent 10 days last month mounting a surveillance operation on a woman who allegedly stood outside a downtown pharmacy each morning trading illicit drugs for safe supply medication.
The documents provide insight into an issue that turned into a political firestorm last month as B.C.'s solicitor general traded barbs with federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over the program, which offers prescription alternatives to people at risk of overdose from street drugs. But by that point, both Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had weighed in — leading B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to criticize them for making claims without waiting for information.
Last summer, the two women were accused of trading prescription drugs for fentanyl. They were also accused of selling heroin out of cigarette packages. According to the warrant, the IDA pharmacy manager told RCMP patients are given up to 28 hydromorphone pills per day "which equated to approximately $440 or $480 a day" if resold.
Advocates say B.C.'s safe supply program can save lives, but a review says more needs to be done to understand the risks of diversion of prescription drugs. Police also watched as the woman allegedly did deals out of her residence with people in mini-vans, trucks and a Mercedes-Benz — as well as a vehicle with Alberta plates.