Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple is sounding the alarm about a powerful new designer drug that's now making its first appearance to law enforcement in the Capital Region.

The sheriff spoke on Sunday after the opioid cocktail dubbed the "Grey Death" was found on an inmate who may have suffered a fatal overdose.

Shane Lemperle was found unresponsive in his cell on Saturday, and the sheriff's office says he couldn't be revived.

An autopsy will determine his cause of death.

But the dark gray powder found inside Lemperle's sock has Sheriff Apple issuing a warning to avoid the potentially deadly drug, if it shows up in our communities.

"We also just want the public to know: it’s here. We urge you to pay attention to what your kids are doing, what your loved ones are doing. And again, we certainly don’t support using heroin or anything of that effect, but I’m asking you out there if you see a loved and know they are addicted, please keep them away from this or again it will be a straight ride to the morgue,” he said.

The Grey Death is generally a blend of opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

It's already blamed for a number of deaths in southern states.

Apple is also pointing to the need for body scanners at the Albany County Jail.

Gov. Cuomo recently signed a bill to allow counties to buy the scanners, which can detect dangerous substances and help keep them out of places they aren't wanted.