At-a-glance: The emergence of nitazenes and brorphine in Canada since 2019

On this page

• Executive summary
• Context
• Goal and focus
• Methods
  • Data sources
  • Data extraction
  • Data analysis
  • Data limitations
• Number and proportion of exhibits analyzed between 2019 and 2021
• Geographic distribution and trafficking routes
• Characteristics of exhibits seized and analyzed
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• Suggested Citation
• References

Executive summary

• Isotonitazene is the most frequently detected Nitazene/Brorphine in Canada, representing 46.8% of all Nitazene/Brorphine detections.
• The number of detections peaked in fall of 2020 with an increase in Etodesnitazene detections, and again in spring of 2021 with increased Protonitazene detections.
• Protonitazene emerged in late 2020 and constituted a quarter of Nitazene/Brorphine detections in 2021.
• Detections were most often reported from Ontario (43.5%) and Quebec (38.5%).
• While Protonitazene was only detected in the east (Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario), Brorphine was only detected in the west (Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan).
• Brorphine, Etodesnitazene and Metonitazene were mainly detected in powder form while Isotonitazene and Protonitazene were most frequently found in tablet form.

Context

Nitazenes and Brorphine are classified as opioids and belong to the benzimidazole chemical group. The first Nitazene/Brorphine seized and analyzed in Canada was Isotonitazene. It was seized in Quebec City by the local police service and received by the Drug Analysis Service (DAS) in May 2019 (Table 1). Since then, the DAS analyzed several substances belonging to this group including Brorphine, Etodesnitazene, Flunitazene, Metonitazene and Protonitazene (Table 1). Chemical substances in this group continue to emerge and it is now posited that Nitazenes and Brorphine will take an important place in the market of illegal substances in the coming years^{Footnote 1}. Several substances belonging to this group have not been analyzed in Canada but have been reported elsewhere. For example, Butonitazene, which has been found in the US, has not yet been detected in Canada^{Footnote 2}.

Figure 1 - Text description

This figure shows a map of Canada, indicating distribution of Brorphine, Etodesnitazene, Flunitazene, Isotonitazene, Metonitazene and Protonitazene across provinces.

Arrows indicate the hypothetical drug geographic distribution and trafficking routes. Isotonitazene is being imported into Canada via airfare from China, Hong Kong and South Korea and that Etodesnitazene is being imported from Poland. Isotonitazene has also been found to be exported from Canada to the United States via mail.

Province	Brorphine		Etodesnitazene		Flunitazene		Isotonitazene		Metonitazene		Protonitazene
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Alberta	8	61.5	2	1.0	-	-	16	5.6	1	2.1	-	-
British Columbia	3	23.1	21	10.4	-	-	6	2.1	-	-	-	-
Manitoba	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0.3	-	-	-	-
New Brunswick	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	6.6	-	-	13	20.3
Newfoundland & Labrador	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0.3	-	-	-	-
Nova Scotia	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	3.1	-	-	-	-
Ontario	-	-	175	87.1	1	100.0	42	14.6	46	95.8	4	6.3
Quebec	-	-	1	0.5	-	-	188	65.3	1	2.1	47	73.4
Saskatchewan	2	15.4	2	1.0	-	-	6	2.1	-	-	-	-
Total	13	100	201	100	1	100	288	100	48	100	64	100

Table 1: First Nitazene/Brorphine Detections in Canada

Substance	First Detection			Structure
	Date	City, Province	Additional Information
Brorphine	9 May 2019	Calgary, AB	Seized by the police service of Calgary
Etodesnitazene	25 May 2020	Hamilton, ON	Imported from Poland, seized by CBSA
Flunitazene	9 Dec 2020	Hamilton, ON	Seized by the police service of Hamilton
Isotonitazene	3 May 2019	Quebec City, QC	Seized by the police service of Quebec City
Metonitazene	21 Aug 2020	Hamilton, ON	Seized by the police service of Hamilton
Protonitazene	30 Dec 2020	Quebec City, QC	Seized by the police service of Quebec City

Goal and focus

This report aims at presenting the result of a pilot project based on a collaborative work between the DAS, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) related to Nitazenes and Brorphine in order to draw a more complete picture of the situation in Canada.

Methods

Data sources

DAS data

DAS analyzes samples submitted by Canadian law enforcement agencies. All analysis results are entered in a centralized database, the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The presented data covers the period between May 2019 and July 2021, inclusively.

RCMP data

The data presented here were retrieved following identification of exhibits of interest by DAS. Based on this, the research through the RCMP Record Management System was completed for the same period as provided by DAS.

CBSA data

The CBSA laboratory analyzes samples submitted by Border Services Officers from Canadian ports of entry. These samples, which are from imported or exported detained goods that are suspected of being or containing drug substances or precursors, are tracked as cases in a centralized Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The presented data is derived from cases that were completed from January 2020 to August 2021, inclusively.

Data extraction

DAS data

The data presented here were retrieved from DAS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

RCMP data

Data extraction was completed manually as the Nitazenes and Brorphine are not currently in the available drop down menu, making these substances not easily searchable. As such, most of the research was completed manually from the RCMP file numbers provided by DAS. In some cases, the research was extended to discussions with investigators as the information on file was insufficient.

CBSA data

The data presented here were retrieved from the CBSA Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), which was created and is maintained by the CBSA laboratory.

Data analysis

Analysis was performed in R, a data analysis software. Nitazene/Brorphine detections are defined as the identification of a Nitazene/Brorphine in a unique exhibit.

Data limitations

This short report draws on data made available by the Drug Analysis Service (DAS), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Sample seized by the Canada Border Services Agency are analyzed in the CBSA Laboratories. This data is only derived from samples submitted for confirmatory analysis at the central CBSA laboratory and may not include all imports or exports of these substances.

Canadian Law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP regularly submit seized exhibits to the DAS Laboratory.

Several limitations govern the data from drug seizures. First, a limited number of samples were analyzed for each substance; low number of samples may not provide an accurate picture of currently circulating substances. Second, since law enforcement agencies submit exhibits for analysis on a voluntary basis, the analyzed samples may not be representative of seized substances. In addition, analyzed samples may not be representative of drug circulating on the market as a number of factors may influence drug seizures and reporting, such as increased awareness of substances and law enforcement capacities and priorities.  As such, the data presented here should not be used as a basis for determining trends or making comparisons.

Number and proportion of exhibits analyzed between 2019 and 2021

Between May 2019 and July 2021, there were 615 Nitazene/Brorphine detections in samples analyzed by the DAS and CBSA laboratories in Canada; 577 detections were in samples from police seizures, 27 from RCMP seizures and 11 from CBSA seizures (Table 2). The most frequently detected substance is Isotonitazene followed by Etodesnitazene, representing respectively 46.8% and 32.7% of all the Nitazene/ Brorphine detections. The least frequently detected substance is Flunitazene which was identified once in an exhibit seized in Hamilton, Ontario. While the proportion of Isotonitazene and Etodesnitazene detections decreased in 2021 relative to 2020 the proportion of Protonitazene and Metonitazene detections increased to constitute 25.6% and 18.7% of Nitazene/Brorphine detections in 2021, respectively (Table 2; Figure 2).

The data presented in this figure is available in Table 2.

Table 2: Nitazene/Brorphine Detections across years

Substance	2019		2020		2021		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Brorphine	8	40.0	4	1.1	1	0.4	13	2.1
Etodesnitazene	-	-	138	39.5	63	25.6	201	32.7
Flunitazene	-	-	1	0.3	-	-	1	0.2
Isotonitazene	12	60.0	203	58.2	73	29.7	288	46.8
Metonitazene	-	-	2	0.6	46	18.7	48	7.8
Protonitazene	-	-	1	0.3	63	25.6	64	10.4
Total	20	100	349	100	246	100	615	100

Geographic distribution and trafficking routes

The majority of Nitazene/Brorphine detections were in Ontario (43.5%) or Quebec (38.5%) (Table 3). 65.3% of the Isotonitazene detections were from Quebec, 14.6% from Ontario and 6.6% from New Brunswick. By contrast, 87.1% of the Etodesnitazene detections were from Ontario and 10.4% from British Columbia. While Protonitazene was only detected in the east (Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick), Brorphine was only detected in the west (British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) (Figure 3). Metonitazene was mainly detected in Ontario (Table 3; Figure 3; Figure 4). This tendency for observing different substances in the Eastern and Western part of the country is not new and reflects enduring differences in the illicit drug market.

Evidence from the CBSA suggest that Isotonitazene is being imported into Canada via airfare from China, Hong Kong and South Korea and that Etodesnitazene is being imported from Poland. Evidence from one seizure only suggested that Isotonitazene has also been found to be exported from Canada to the United States via mail.

The data presented in this figure is available in Table 3.

Table 3: Nitazene/Brorphine detections per Province

Province	Brorphine		Etodesnitazene		Flunitazene		Isotonitazene		Metonitazene		Protonitazene
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Alberta	8	61.5	2	1.0	-	-	16	5.6	1	2.1	-	-
British Columbia	3	23.1	21	10.4	-	-	6	2.1	-	-	-	-
Manitoba	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0.3	-	-	-	-
New Brunswick	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	6.6	-	-	13	20.3
Newfoundland & Labrador	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0.3	-	-	-	-
Nova Scotia	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	3.1	-	-	-	-
Ontario	-	-	175	87.1	1	100.0	42	14.6	46	95.8	4	6.3
Quebec	-	-	1	0.5	-	-	188	65.3	1	2.1	47	73.4
Saskatchewan	2	15.4	2	1.0	-	-	6	2.1	-	-	-	-
Total	13	100	201	100	1	100	288	100	48	100	64	100

Figure 4 – Text description

Province	Brorphine n			Etodesnitazene n			Flunitazene n			Isotonitazene n			Metonitazene n			Protonitazene n
	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021
Alberta	7	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	2	12	2	-	-	1	-	-	-
British Columbia	-	3	-	-	18	3	-	-	-	-	1	5	-	-	-	-	-	-
Manitoba	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
New Brunswick	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16	3	-	-	-	-	-	13
Newfoundland and Labrador	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nova Scotia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ontario	-	-	-	-	116	59	-	1	-	-	22	20	-	2	44	-	-	4
Quebec	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	9	141	38	-	-	1	-	1	46
Saskatchewan	1	1	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	1	1	4	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	8	4	1	-	138	63	-	1	-	12	203	73	-	2	46	-	1	63

Characteristics of exhibits seized and analyzed

While Brorphine, Etodesnitazene and Metonitazene were mainly detected in powder form, Isotonitazene and Protonitazene were most frequently found in tablet form. Flunitazene was only detected once, in powder form (Figure 5).

Figure 5 – Text description

Form	Brorphine	Etodesnitazene	Flunitazene	Isotonitazene	Metonitazene	Protonitazene
	n	n	n	n	n	n
Material	1	3	-	-	-	-
Powder	12	191	1	36	46	3
Residue	-	6	-	-	2	1
Syringe	-	1	-	-	-	-
Tablets	-	-	-	251	-	60
Total	13	201	1	287	48	64

Interestingly, while Isotonitazene appeared predominantly in tablet form in the Eastern provinces (Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc.), it was mainly detected in powder form in the Western provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia) (Figure 6).

The largest seizure of Etodesnitazene was reported in May 2020 at the Hamilton Airport by the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) where 500 g was being imported from Poland (Table 4). The largest seizure of Isotonitazene was reported by CBSA in April 2021 in Vancouver International Airport where 500g of the substance was seized as it was being imported from Hong Kong (Table 4). CBSA also intercepted 500g of Isotonitazene at the Pearson International Airport Cargo in April 2021 as it was being imported from South Korea.

Table 4: Largest known Nitazene/Brorphine seizures (Data from CBSA and RCMP)

City, Province	Date	Substance	Form	Quantity	Source
Kelowna, British Columbia	14 Aug 2020	Brorphine	Powder	0.46 g	RCMP
Hamilton, Ontario	25 May 2020	Etodesnitazene	Powder	500 g	CBSA
Moncton, New Brunswick	11 Dec 2020	Isotonitazene	Tablets	10 tablets	RCMP
Vancouver, British Columbia	22 Apr 2021	Isotonitazene	Powder	500 g	CBSA
High Prairie, Alberta	11 Feb 2021	Metonitazene	Powder	2 g	RCMP

Figure 6 – Text description

Province	Brorphine n		Etodesnitazene n				Flunitazene n	Isotonitazene n			Metonitazene n		Protonitazene n
	Material	Powder	Material	Powder	Residue	Syringe	Powder	Unknown	Powder	Tablets	Powder	Residue	Powder	Residue	Tablets
Alberta	1	7	-	2	-	-	-	-	16	-	1	-	-	-	-
British Columbia	-	3	3	18	-	-	-	1	5	-	-	-	-	-	-
Manitoba	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
New Brunswick	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	-	-	-	-	13
Newfoundland and Labrador	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Nova Scotia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	8	-	-	-	-	-
Ontario	-	-	-	168	6	1	1	-	6	36	44	2	1	-	3
Quebec	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	186	1	-	2	1	44
Saskatchewan	-	2	-	2	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	1	12	3	191	6	1	1	1	36	251	46	2	3	1	60

Conclusion

In summary, Isotonitazene is currently the most frequently detected Nitazene/Brorphine in Canada. The number of detections peaked in fall of 2020 with an increase in Etodesnitazene detections, and again in spring of 2021 with increased Protonitazene detections. Protonitazene emerged in late 2020 and constituted a quarter of Nitazene/Brorphine detections in 2021. Detections were most often reported from Ontario and Quebec. The type of substance found as well as their form is regionalised. Continued monitoring is required to ensure partners are aware of the presence of harmful substance on the Canadian market.

Acknowledgements

The development of this fact sheet was made possible through collaboration of Health Canada Drug Analysis Service (HC DAS), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). We wish to thank the members of the Joint HC DAS, RCMP and CBSA Working Group for their contributions in the development of this information product.

A working group report:

Drug Analysis Service – Health Canada:

• Marie-Line Gilbert
• Michèle Boileau-Falardeau
• Cindy Leung-So

Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

• Luc Chicoine
• Michael Bushey

Canada Border Service Agency:

• Vincent Marleau
• Cathy Copeland
• Christian Gagné
• Thomas Berrigan

Suggested Citation

Government of Canada. (2022). Health Canada Drug Analysis Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency. At-A-Glance: The Emergence of Nitazenes and Brorphine in Canada since 2019. Longueuil (QC), 2022. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/emergence-nitazenes-brorphine-canada-2019.html

References