Hamilton police seized a suspected bottle of liquid fentanyl, only to have Health Canada confirm it was Carfentanil. (Hamilton Police) Hamilton police have confirmed the presence of the deadly opioid carfentanil — a substance so potent that doctors wear gloves and face masks to avoid contact.

On Nov. 5, police were called to the Durand neighbourhood to seize a bottle of suspected liquid fentanyl.

Almost two months later, Health Canada has the suspected liquid was a bottle of carfentanil, a deadly elephant tranquilizer.

The individual who turned it over was aware of the dangers of the drug, and allowed it to be seized for analysis. It was in an unmarked nasal inhaler.

Hamilton police are taking action to educate the community on the dangers of carfentanil and other opioids.

"It is important for the community to know the dangers of taking unknown amounts of drugs that is not prescribed by a physician can be fatal," police said in a Friday media release.

Even worse, naloxone kits used in case of overdose are useless against carfentanil.

"Carfentanil is notorious for being very aggressive," said Dr. Bill Krizmanich, chief of emergency medicine for Hamilton Health Sciences, earlier this month.

It would take several kits of naloxone to reverse the effects of carfentanil, which is 10,000 stronger than heroin. Even tiny amounts are deadly.

They're so deadly that police advise not to even touch the substance if you see it.

"If you have come into physical contact with any illegal substances you should immediately seek medical attention and notify police," the release said.

The drug is so potent that emergency room staff wear face masks, shields, gloves and gowns to treat patients suspected of using the drug.

Police encourage the public to report any information regarding trafficking or presence of fentanyl to Det. Craig Leishman at 905-546-3887, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.