New Zealand: Candy laced with fatal levels of meth distributed by charity; 400 candies still 'out there'

In New Zealand, candies laced with dangerous, potentially fatal quantities of methamphetamine landed three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker in the hospital.

The candies were distributed by a charity, the Auckland City Mission, known for providing essential supplies to those in need. The New Zealand charity has issued a public apology,"to say we are devastated is an understatement," it said.

How did this happen?

The Auckland City Mission in a statement to the press said that it discovered the contamination on Tuesday (Aug 13) after recipients reported the candies' foul taste.

Three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker — who sought medical attention after consuming the sweets are well, and are currently not hospitalised, reported Reuters citing Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin from Auckland police.

There was no indication of wrongdoing by the charity itself, said Baldwin.

"Drug importation is complex, and organised criminal groups use a range of measures and techniques to try and evade enforcement agencies, not only in New Zealand but around the world," he added.

How much meth did the candies contain?

The candies, which were donated by an unknown individual, were tested by the New Zealand Drug Foundation.

Tests revealed that each sweet contained up to three grams of the drug—equivalent to 300 typical doses.

Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm noted that a "common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses".

"Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death," she said.

Police believe the candies are likely the by-product of an international drug trafficking operation and have urged the public to hand over any they may have received.

"We need to round these up as quickly as we can," said Baldwin. He reported that 16 of the sweets had been found so far.

A criminal investigation has been launched to determine how the contaminated sweets entered the country, and efforts are underway to retrieve up to 400 remaining pieces.

Rinda Food, the Malaysian sweet maker whose packaging the meth-laced sweets carried, said that its "branding" had been misused and that it did not "condone the use of any illegal drugs in our products".

"Our company is dedicated to ensuring that our products meet the highest safety and regulatory standards."

How dangerous can the candy be?

Methamphetamine can cause severe symptoms such as chest pain, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Helm, speaking on Radio New Zealand, noted that it is not uncommon for drug smugglers to disguise illegal narcotics in food products but said: "We suspect somebody hasn't intentionally sought to poison children."

(With inputs from agencies)