Latest news New Zealand: Drug-laced sweets in aid packages

Candies containing potentially lethal amounts of methamphetamine have been donated anonymously in New Zealand and distributed in food parcels to those in need. It is still completely unclear how the bright yellow pineapple-flavored Rinda brand sweets came into circulation, said police spokesman Glenn Baldwin. Three people have so far received medical treatment after eating them.

The drugged sweets were donated by an unknown person in sealed retail packaging and then distributed in aid packages, according to the charitable foundation Auckland City Mission. "It is important that the public is aware of these sweets and the danger they pose," Baldwin said. The police are currently trying to find out how many pieces have come into circulation and where they came from.

"Strange taste"

Head of Mission Helen Robinson said the sweets may have been distributed to 300 to 400 people. After a person drew the foundation's attention to the "funny-tasting sweets", they were examined more closely. "Tests immediately confirmed that it was potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine," Robinson said.

According to the New Zealand Drug Foundation, around three grams of methamphetamine were found in the candy under investigation. "A common dose to swallow is between 10 and 25 milligrams, so this laced candy contained up to 300 doses," said executive director Sarah Helm. "Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and can lead to death."

However, due to the strange taste, most of those affected have spit out the sweets straight away, according to the police, and have therefore not suffered any major damage to their health. The Auckland City Mission said: "To say we are devastated would be an understatement. We are totally reliant on the generosity of the public to help people in need."