Counterfeit pills containing dangerous opioids: six individuals charged in two RCMP investigations

September 16, 2026 - Sherbrooke, Quebec
From: Federal Policing Eastern Region

Content

Two RCMP Federal Policing investigations, Eastern Region, today led to charges being laid against six individuals in connection with the manufacture and trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets containing nitazenes, a family of extremely potent synthetic opioids.

Drummondville clandestine laboratory: production capacity estimated at over 45 million tablets

An investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit that led to the dismantling, in July 2024, of a highly sophisticated clandestine laboratory located in a Drummondville residence has today led to the laying of charges against the following individuals:

• Michael Saint-Pierre, 38, from Coaticook
• Daniel Junior Gagné, 38, from Sherbrooke
• David Rancourt, 38, from Sherbrooke

A fourth individual, Jasmin Tremblay, 47, from Drummondville, is wanted and remains the subject of an arrest warrant.

In total, over a million tablets containing synthetic opioids were seized, as well as 24 kg of ketamine, 6 kg of tadalafil, significant quantities of chemicals and laboratory equipment used to manufacture illicit tablets. Analysis by Health Canada indicates that this clandestine laboratory had an estimated production capacity of over 45 million tablets.

Mr. Saint-Pierre and Mr. Rancourt are scheduled to appear this afternoon by videoconference at the Sherbrooke courthouse on various charges, including possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking. Mr. Gagné will appear by videoconference at the Drummondville courthouse to answer, among other things, to a charge of drug trafficking.

Nitazenes discovered in a clandestine laboratory in Sherbrooke

Following an investigation that began in November 2024, officers from the Estrie Detachment arrested Yannick Roy, 37, of Sherbrooke, and Jasmin Leclerc, 41, of Sherbrooke. They will face charges of production and possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking.

In May 2025, a clandestine laboratory for manufacturing counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets was dismantled in the basement of a Sherbrooke residence. Nearly 60,000 counterfeit protonitazepyne tablets were seized during the investigation, along with significant quantities of chemicals and sophisticated equipment for large-scale production.

The two accused will appear this afternoon at the Sherbrooke courthouse.

The dangers of nitazenes

The counterfeit tablets seized during these two investigations mimicked the appearance of legitimate pharmaceutical tablets, such as oxycodone, and could hardly be distinguished from the genuine product. However, the analyses revealed that they contained synthetic opioids from the nitazene family, a class of extremely potent substances associated with a high risk of overdose. Among the substances detected was protonitazepyne, a synthetic opioid about 25 times stronger than fentanyl.

Appeal to the public

Do you have information on the illegal activities of individuals or groups of individuals? Contact the RCMP at 514-939-8300 / 1-800-771-5401 or your local police department.

Associated links

• Clandestine laboratory in Drummondville: hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills seized (August 1, 2024)

Contacts