AFP — New Zealand police said on Thursday they had recovered 29 methamphetamine pills disguised as pineapple sweets that had been mistakenly distributed to members of the public in a charity donation box.
Police are rushing to trace more brightly packaged drugs that have been anonymously donated to anti-poverty charity Auckland City Mission and then unwittingly redistributed.
Tests revealed that one of the pieces contained about three grams of methamphetamine, a lethal dose of the highly addictive drug.
Police are trying to trace up to 400 people who may have received the fake sweets and a criminal investigation has been launched.
“Police are acting swiftly to secure items in the area, but at the same time, part of the challenge is understanding how much still remains,” Detective Glenn Baldwin said in a statement.
Police say four people have been treated for injuries after eating the sweets – two children, one teenager and one charity worker – but none are seriously injured.
Police are also investigating allegations that one of the wrapped candies was being sold on Facebook Marketplace.
Police believe the drugs may have been packaged in distinctive yellow “Linda” packaging by traffickers or dealers to evade detection.
Malaysian candy maker Linda Food Industries told AFP its brand had been “misused” and that it “does not condone the use of any illegal drugs in our products”.
An Auckland City Mission spokesman said the charity had been “devastated” by the incident.
