Crystal meth drug found in candy distributed by aid group in New Zealand
"We must find them as soon as possible," said lead investigator Glenn Baldwin. So far, he said, 16 candies have been found to contain crystal meth. Investigators suspect that drug smugglers or dealers may have wrapped the drugs in the yellow pineapple candy paper of the Rinda brand, which then ended up as donations to the Auckland City Mission charity organization by mistake.
A child and a teenager were hospitalized after trying the candies and spitting them out due to their unpleasant taste, as Baldwin reported. An employee of the charity organization was also medically treated for symptoms of methamphetamine ingestion.
Tests by New Zealand's Drug Foundation showed that each candy contained about three grams of crystal meth - a hundred times the usual dose consumed by drug addicts. Ingesting such a large amount of methamphetamine is "extremely dangerous" and can be fatal, warned expert Sarah Helm.
The charity organization estimates that up to 400 people may have received food parcels containing the dangerous candies. So far, eight affected families have come forward. Charity organization head Helen Robinson said that those affected reported the candies tasted "bitter and revolting." However, even just licking the candies can result in serious health consequences, she warned.
Methamphetamine can cause chest pain, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, and loss of consciousness, warned the Drug Foundation.
The hospitalization of the child and teenager highlight the potential dangers of unknowingly consuming candies contaminated with illegal drugs like methamphetamine. The Drug Foundation's warning about the large amount of methamphetamine in each candy underscores its extreme danger, potentially leading to fatal consequences.
