NewsMeth-laced candy tragedy exposes dangerous charity mishap in New Zealand

Meth-laced candy tragedy exposes dangerous charity mishap in New Zealand

Homeless people were given candies with a lethal dose of drugs.
Homeless people were given candies with a lethal dose of drugs.
Images source: © Pixabay
Justyna Lasota-Krawczyk

14 August 2024 18:56

A horrible mistake in New Zealand. A fatal dose of methamphetamine was detected in sweets that a charity organization distributed in food packages for the poor. One of the benefactors anonymously donated pineapple candies.

"Auckland City Mission" is a New Zealand charity organization combating poverty. It made headlines when it was discovered that a batch of candies donated in the food packages was contaminated with a highly addictive and illegal drug.

"An investigation is ongoing, and the police are treating the matter as a priority given the risk to the community," local authorities announced.

Fatal dose of drug in sweets

The New Zealand Drug Foundation reported that a test sample of the innocuous-looking white candy in brightly yellow packaging indicated the presence of methamphetamine.

The foundation's spokesperson, Sarah Helm, said that the ​​tested candies contained around three grams of methamphetamine. This is several hundred times more than the dose taken by individuals who purposefully use the drug.  

"A common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses," noted Helm. She explained that intake of this amount of substance is "extremely dangerous and could result in death."

Terrible mistake or deliberate act?

The spokesperson appealed to those who received food packages from the organization in Auckland not to consume the sweets contained in them. - The woman admits that we do not know the scale of this phenomenon.

As the organization stated in a released declaration, the candies were anonymously donated by one of the benefactors. They were in sealed and branded packaging, which did not arouse suspicion among the volunteers preparing the packages.

Helen Robinson from Auckland City Mission told reporters that it's vital that the public is aware of these lollies and the hazards that they present.

The charity believes ​​up to 400 people might have received the contaminated sweets in food packages.

Even touching can be dangerous

Robinson said eight families have tasted the sweets in the packages. So far, no one has required hospitalization.

In one case, parents gave a candy to their child, who immediately spat it out. Contaminated sweets are reported to have a bitter and unpleasant taste. At such a concentration of the drug, even simply touching or licking the candy can be dangerous.

The horrible mistake was discovered after one of the recipients felt ill after trying a candy. They also noticed the bitter taste, which is unusual for sweets.

Methamphetamine can cause chest pain, rapid heartbeat, seizures, delusions, and loss of consciousness, the drug foundation warns.

Helm told Radio New Zealand that drug traffickers often hide illegal drugs as food items. She added that they suspect the drugs were not donated intentionally. Ultimately, the police will decide.

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