Charity’s Candy Giveaway Turns Deadly with Methamphetamine
A homeless charity in New Zealand has inadvertently given away sweets containing a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine after they were donated by a member of the public.
The New Zealand Drug Foundation said the amount of the drug in each wrapper was 300 times the level someone would normally take and it could be fatal.
The charity, Auckland City Mission, said it was contacting 400 people to trace parcels that may contain methamphetamine – a highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
Three people were taken to the hospital after eating solid blocks of the medicine wrapped in sweet wrappers, officials said. He was later discharged.
Auckland city missionary Helen Robinson said eight families, including at least one child, had reported eating the tainted sweets, but the “revolting” taste meant most spat them out.
The charity was alerted by a food bank client who reported a “funny tasting” dessert.
The wrappers were labeled Malaysian brand Rinda, while the sweets were said to be pineapple flavored.
Staff tested them and called authorities. One employee was taken to the hospital.
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New Zealand Drug Foundation spokesman Ben Brix-Ang said disguising drugs as regular products was a common cross-border smuggling tactic.
Each sweet has a street value of £473, he said, adding that the donation to the charity was accidental rather than anything dangerous.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said “initial impressions” were that the importation scheme was fraudulent.
Sixteen sweets have been recovered, while it is unclear how many remain at large, he added.
What happened in this incident?
A homeless charity in New Zealand, Auckland City Mission, inadvertently distributed sweets containing a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine after they were donated by a member of the public.
How was Methamphetamine drug dangerous were these sweets?
The New Zealand Drug Foundation reported that each sweet contained 300 times the amount of methamphetamine that someone would normally take, making them potentially fatal.
How many people were affected?
Three people were hospitalized after consuming the sweets, but were later discharged. The charity has contacted 400 people who may have received the sweets, and at least eight families, including one child, reported eating them.
How did the charity become aware of the tainted sweets?
The charity was alerted by a food bank client who reported a “funny tasting” dessert. Staff then tested the sweets and contacted the authorities.
What steps have been taken since the discovery?
Auckland City Mission is actively working to trace and recover any parcels that may contain the tainted sweets. Sixteen sweets have been recovered so far.
What is the origin of these sweets?
The sweets were labeled as a Malaysian brand called Rinda and were supposed to be pineapple flavored. However, they contained methamphetamine, likely due to a cross-border smuggling tactic.
Was this a deliberate act?
Authorities believe that the donation of these tainted sweets to the charity was accidental. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin indicated that the importation scheme was fraudulent rather than an intentional act of harm.
What should I do if I have received these sweets?
If you have received any suspicious sweets from Auckland City Mission, do not consume them. Contact the charity or local authorities immediately to report and return the sweets.
How is Auckland City Mission handling the situation?
The charity is actively reaching out to individuals who may have received the sweets and is cooperating with authorities to ensure all potentially dangerous items are recovered.
What is being done to prevent this from happening again?
The incident is being thoroughly investigated, and the charity is likely reviewing its donation screening processes to prevent such occurrences in the future.
