On Thursday, June 19, 2025, police intercepted a package containing several hundred pills that resemble what is commonly known as the opioid-free drug called “Xanax.” After sending a sample of these pills for testing with Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service, police discovered that they were confirmed to be composed of a highly potent opioid known as isotonitazene.
The approximate total street value of the drugs seized was nearly $5,000. At this time, no arrests have been made.
The pills containing isotonitazene can be described as grey in appearance and in the shape of a rectangle. The pill imprint “ONAX” is located on one side of the pill and “2” is located on the other side. Photos are included below.
Drugs seized: “ONAX” imprint
Drugs seized: “2” imprint
“This powerful synthetic opioid, disguised as the prescription drug Xanax, is extremely concerning," says S/Sgt. Marco Antonio with the EPS’ Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section. “Unfortunately, the seizure of these pills is another example of how drug traffickers are manufacturing an array of synthetic opioid variants that can easily be portrayed as other medications, unbeknownst to the consumer.”
The EPS is reminding Edmontonians that medications that aren’t prescribed directly to a patient by a medical professional are never safe to ingest and pose significant risk to health and safety.