Police are estimating as many as 1,400 lives might be saved as a result of an investigation by the RCMP Projects and Street Crimes Unit.
Two men and three women were arrested when police searched a home and vehicle in the 2100 block of Bowen Road Monday, according to Nanaimo RCMP.
The search turned up 87 grams of fentanyl and 61 grams of crack cocaine withe a combined estimated street value of $30,000.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said 87 grams of fentanyl represents 700 to 1,400 doses.
"That's how many potential live we've just saved," O'Brien said. "That is significant because we know that if the wrong combination of a drug is involved with fentanyl, you can die within 20 minutes and fentanyl is directly linked to a number of fatal overdoses in Nanaimo."
Three of the five suspects have been released on a promise to appear in Nanaimo provincial court Dec. 7 to face recommended charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
A 38-year-old man is facing recommended charges of two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of possession of stolen property. A 31-year-old woman is also facing recommended charges of two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Both were held in custody to appear in Nanaimo provincial court Friday (Sept. 25).