At a supermarket in Orange County, employees experienced dizziness after discovering a counterfeit $100 bill dusted with an unknown white powder. Authorities are looking into this unsettling situation.
The counterfeit bill surfaced at an Albertsons location twice in February. First, on February 7, then again just a few days later on the 10th, according to police.
In the initial encounter, two staff members came across the fake bill in a shopping aisle.
Subsequently, the employees alerted their manager about the suspicious bills. Soon after, they began to feel dizzy, prompting the involvement of police and a hazardous materials team.
Upon investigation, emergency responders found that the employees were okay, but they chose to visit a hospital for added precaution.
According to Ziggy Azarcon, a Public Information Officer with the Irvine Police, tests on the powder revealed it was ephedrine.
Ephedrine, while legal, can be misused in illegal drug manufacturing processes, which poses potential risks.
Health officials inspected the Albertsons location and cleared it as safe for customers. Nonetheless, Azarcon advised caution, suggesting folks be wary of picking up items off the ground and report anything unusual.
Later, more counterfeit $100 bills appeared at the same store, but these didn’t have any powder on them, as stated by police. A shopper found these new bills in a cart and reported them to authorities.
Investigators from the Irvine police continue to look into the counterfeit currency incidents, with Albertsons pledging to assist in the ongoing inquiry.
