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GEORGINA – A central Ontario pharmacist and seven other people are facing charges following a drug trafficking investigation in Georgina, Ont.

York Regional Police say they began the probe last November following a report that a pharmacist in the community of Keswick, which is part of Georgina, was selling narcotics to people without prescriptions.

Investigators say the drugs involved were fentanyl – an opioid-based painkiller about 100 times stronger than morphine – and OxyNEO, a new formulation of oxycodone that replaced OxyContin in 2012.

Police allege the pharmacist arranged for the sale of fentanyl through additional suspects, and on several occasions sold OxyNEO tablets in unmarked prescription bottles.

Investigators say they conducted a series of searches last week and narcotics, firearms, other weapons and currency were seized and eight people arrested.

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A 59-year-old pharmacist from Vaughan, Ont., and seven Georgina residents face a total of 28 drug and weapons-related charges