Fake opioid on illicit market is a powerful animal tranquillizer, Montreal public health warns - Montreal Gazette

CommentaryGuest CommentaryFederico Varese16 October 2026clock8 Minute ReadOpioid threat: Italian Armed Forces and Carabinieri involved in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking in San Pasquale. Image: NurPhoto SRL / Alamy StockItaly’s low fentanyl death toll reflects Europe’s distinct opioid market history, not mafia restraint – but synthetic opioids such as nitazenes are a growing threat. Italy has recorded very few deaths involving fentanyl. A September 2026 article in The Economist invokes The Godfather films to suggest that ‘the country’s mafias seem to have collaborated to keep fentanyl out of their territory,’ protecting their established markets from a substance that kills customers and attracts police attention. Such a hypothesis had already been put forward by Roberto Saviano in La Repubblica. While it is an intriguing theory, there is no evidence for it. To understand the absence of an American-style fentanyl crisis in Italy as well as in other parts of Europe, we need to look at the history of opioid markets, rather than assume that godfathers hailing from unnamed ‘mafias’ are out there to protect their fellow countrypeople.

CommentaryGuest CommentaryFederico Varese16 October 2026clock8 Minute ReadOpioid threat: Italian Armed Forces and Carabinieri involved in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking in San Pasquale. Image: NurPhoto SRL / Alamy StockItaly’s low fentanyl death toll reflects Europe’s distinct opioid market history, not mafia restraint – but synthetic opioids such as nitazenes are a growing threat. Italy has recorded very few deaths involving fentanyl. A September 2026 article in The Economist invokes The Godfather films to suggest that ‘the country’s mafias seem to have collaborated to keep fentanyl out of their territory,’ protecting their established markets from a substance that kills customers and attracts police attention. Such a hypothesis had already been put forward by Roberto Saviano in La Repubblica. While it is an intriguing theory, there is no evidence for it. To understand the absence of an American-style fentanyl crisis in Italy as well as in other parts of Europe, we need to look at the history of opioid markets, rather than assume that godfathers hailing from unnamed ‘mafias’ are out there to protect their fellow countrypeople.

WindsorThe Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) says 30 opioid overdoses were reported through emergency department visits between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. Overdoses were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: Oct 05, 2026 6:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 6Listen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) says 30 opioid overdoses were reported through emergency department visits between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. (Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images)A high number of opioid overdoses reported last week have prompted a health alert from a community‑based partnership working to prevent and reduce substance‑related harms in Windsor‑Essex. The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) says 30 opioid overdoses were reported through emergency department visits between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. Of those cases, 17 involved fentanyl, according to WECOSS.

NorthOn day two of Craig Routery's trial, the Crown presented text messages between the complainant and Routery, which included explicit photos and messages. When questioned, Routery said he "would not involve [himself] with something that was underage. "Craig Routery described explicit chats between him and a youth as 'roleplay'Listen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Craig Routery, pictured on Oct. 14, 2026, outside the Yellowknife courthouse. It's the second day of Routery's trial, which stems from allegations of sexual assault and child exploitation. (Samanntha Lee/CBC)The trial for a former Canadian Armed Forces reservist facing multiple sexual assault and child exploitation charges continued in a Yellowknife courtroom Wednesday, where explicit exchanges with a youth were unveiled. Craig Scott Routery, 62, who was a warrant officer with the 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group from Yellowknife at the time he was charged, pleaded not guilty to nine charges on Tuesday in the N. W. T. Supreme Court.

12 October 2026, London - The World Gold Council (WGC) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate efforts to improve transparency, governance and formalisation in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) space. The partnership will address corruption, gold smuggling, and illicit financial flows while reducing environmental and social harms, and promoting economic development in gold-producing countries. The agreement establishes a framework to strengthen ASGM governance, improve traceability and support the responsible integration of artisanal gold into formal global supply chains. The organisations will work together to support EITI implementing countries in advancing formalisation efforts and responsible sourcing initiatives. The organisations will collaborate on publications, guidance documents, pilot projects, knowledge-sharing initiatives and international convenings.