Stamford Man Brought Drugs Into Greenwich Hospital In Greeting Card, Police Say

GREENWICH, CT — A Stamford man is accused of smuggling drugs into Greenwich Hospital through a greeting card, and then giving them to a patient, according to the Greenwich Police Department.

Eugene Wasicki, 53, was arrested on a warrant on April 6 that charges him with sale of a controlled substance, a felony, and second-degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, his arrest report states. Wasicki was able to post 10 percent of a $25,000 bond and was released.

On March 21, Greenwich Hospital reported to police that they found suspected fentanyl on a patient.

The patient was found by medical staff to be in respiratory distress after ingesting the suspected drugs, police said.

Members of the Greenwich Police Narcotics Section conducted interviews, and an investigation found that Wasicki delivered fentanyl to the patient, who was already intubated with a tracheal breathing tube, police said.

Police noted that after being treated, the patient revealed that it was Wasicki who delivered the drugs which were concealed within a greeting card.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, and can be applied in a patch on the skin, police said.

Because it's so powerful, fentanyl is often diverted for abuse, and can be disguised in other drugs like heroin.

Wasicki is scheduled to appear in court April 21.