Police probe donation of drugs in candy wrappers to food bank

Police in New Zealand are investigating how drugs in sweet wrappers were donated to a food bank.

Earlier this week, the Auckland City Mission discovered that an unknown person distributing food parcels donated some lollies containing methamphetamine.

The Rinda brand pineapple lollies were in a sealed retail-sized package. The charity only accepts commercially manufactured items for inclusion in food parcels. 

A problem was reported by a food parcel recipient who said they had “funny-tasting” lollies. The NZ Drug Foundation tested the candy still on site, and the results confirmed they contained potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine. 

Reports of affected people
Police are aware of four people who have sought medical assistance. A charity worker went to the hospital before being discharged. She was experiencing symptoms after tasting a lolly. Three young people were taken for precautionary medical checks after tasting the sweet before spitting it out due to the unpleasant taste. Anyone concerned that they may have consumed one of the lollies and are feeling unwell, is advised to go to the nearest healthcare provider urgently.

Police said they have recovered more than 30 blocks of methamphetamine disguised as branded lollies. Initial inquiries suggest that six to eight lollies have been disposed of by those who received parcels.

Officers are still trying to establish how many lollies may be in circulation as part of Operation Tirade, but the issue appears limited to the Auckland region.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin of Auckland City Criminal Investigation Branch said: “The investigation team acknowledges the information that has come through, and people are reporting that they have some of the disguised lollies. Detectives have attended these reports to secure and remove the items from circulation.”

Police are aware of a report that someone attempted to sell one of the lollies on Facebook Marketplace. They said dealing a Class A drug is a serious offence.

“We take this report very seriously, but inquiries are in the early stages. Those who have inadvertently come into possession of these lollies through food parcels have done nothing wrong,” said Baldwin.

Rinda’s response
Police contacted the Rinda company, based in Malaysia, and the business cooperates with the investigation. Officers are investigating the origin of the methamphetamine, with suspicions being it was imported into New Zealand.

Rinda Food Industries said it does not condone the use of illegal drugs in its products.

“It has come to our attention through recent news reports in New Zealand that our products may have been misused in connection with illegal substances. We recognize the seriousness of this situation and understand the concerns it raises. We will work closely with law enforcement and relevant authorities to address this issue and protect the integrity of our brand.”

Auckland City Mission said: “Our immediate priority is the safety of the people we support. In time, we will conduct an internal investigation to understand if our processes can be improved. To say we are devastated is an understatement. We rely on the public’s generosity to help support people in need, and we are thankful to everyone who supports us.”  

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)