Galveston County, TX

On October 19, 2022, at approximately 0730 hours, LA County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau Detectives and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents assigned to a task force at the Los Angeles International Airport seized approximately 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills.

The suspect attempted to go through TSA screening with several bags of candy and miscellaneous snacks with the intent of boarding a plane.  However, it was discovered that inside the “Sweetarts”, “Skittles”, and “Whoppers” candy boxes were fentanyl pills and not  candy.  The suspect fled prior to being detained by law enforcement but has been identified and the investigation is on-going.

The DEA has warned of fentanyl pills that look candy-like. It is always a good practice to check your kid’s candy. While tampered candy incidents are exceptionally rare, with the look , the packaging, and the potency of these drugs, it does not take much time to go through a bag to prevent a potentially harmful incident. Make sure to check the candy in clearly lit spaces. Make sure an adult has checked any candy before consumption. Look for torn or resealed packaging and any pinholes. Remove any items that are choking hazards. While thoughtful, homemade items from strangers may look good they should be discarded. All these tips can help keep kids safe, not only from tampered food items, but also food poisoning, allergies, and choking.

If you suspect that your child has ingested anything poisonous call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for expert help. If you suspect they need immediate aid, are unconscious, or having a seizure after ingesting something, DIAL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.