A charity in Auckland, New Zealand, has unintentionally distributed sweets filled with a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamines.
The sweets, found in food parcels donated by a member of the public, contained solid blocks of methamphetamine disguised as lollies.
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Auckland City Mission is now working to contact up to 400 recipients to track down these methamphetamine-laced lollies.
According to the New Zealand Drug Foundation, each lolly contained up to 300 times the typical dose of methamphetamine.
The foundation’s spokesperson, Ben Birks Ang, said that smuggling drugs disguised as everyday items is a common tactic.
Mr Birks Ang expressed concerns that more of these lollies could be circulating in New Zealand.
Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson reported that eight families, including at least one child, had already consumed the contaminated lollies.
Fortunately, no one was hospitalised, as the “revolting” taste led most people to spit them out immediately.
The charity has strict guidelines for accepting donations, only taking commercially produced food in sealed packaging.
However, the methamphetamine-laced lollies were disguised as pineapple-flavoured sweets from a Malaysian brand, Rinda, and arrived in a retail-sized bag.
“To say that we are devastated is an understatement,” Ms Robinson said.
The charity was alerted on Tuesday when a client reported “funny-tasting” lollies.
A criminal investigation is now underway.
The food bank, which usually distributes parcels five days a week, has been closed as the charity works to ensure no more contaminated sweets are distributed.
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