Drug charges laid following 2023 overdose death of Thorold man

Flubromazolam is a game changer. It is so potent and does not respond to Naloxone because it is a benzodiazepine. My son William, age 21, was the only known victim in Ottawa in 2022. Where is this drug coming from? Natalie Bergin

March 2024 Niagara Regional Police and OPP arrest Leamington man following months-long investigation 

A Leamington man faces drug charges as a result of a Niagara Regional Police investigation into an overdose death of a Thorold man last summer.

On July 1 detectives and uniformed officers started investigating the death of a 23-year-old man who was found in a Thorold home, said a media release issued by the NRP on Friday.

A postmortem examination found the man had fatal levels of oxycodone and flubromazolam toxicity in his system, said the release.

Flubromazolam is a potent designer benzodiazepine found in counterfeit Xanax pills, said police, who added it is not prescribed in Canada.

The NRP’s opioid enforcement and education unit identified a suspected drug trafficker who was using the mail delivery system, said the release.

On Thursday, the NRP with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police executed a search warrant at a home in Leamington, said the release.

During the search, police said, $4,700 in cash, MDMA, and packaging and electronic devices were seized.

A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, and possession of MDMA. 

The accused was released from custody to appear May 2 at Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.