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Attorney General warns about fentanyl that looks like candy
Aaron Mesmer reports
TAMPA, Fla. - Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a warning to parents Tuesday: be cautious during trick-or-treating because a dangerous drug is being made to look like popular candy.
During a news conference at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Moody said Mexican cartels are trying to get kids addicted to fentanyl, a potentially deadly opioid and sneaking it into the U.S. in candy packaging.
"This could be the scariest Halloween in my lifetime," Moody said. "I have no doubt that the cartels are trying to purposefully target children at a younger and younger age to get them addicted, which will ensure consistent profits."
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Record-breaking fentanyl bust
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested three suspected drug traffickers and seized 11 pounds of fentanyl, which is enough to kill 2.5 million people.
It's unclear if drug dealers are actually targeting children, but the DEA recently seized 12,000 fentanyl pills wrapped in popular Halloween candy packages at Los Angeles International Airport. They also seized roughly 15,000 candy-colored fentanyl pills, wrapped in Nerds candy boxes and Skittles candy bags.
Fentanyl was allegedly wrapped in popular candy bags to be transported into the US
While fentanyl wrapped in popular candy bags has not been found in Florida, Moody said the potential is there. However, she acknowledged that the likelihood is low for fentanyl to end up in trick-or-treat baskets.
Parents, she said, should still check every piece of candy to make sure they're safe, and discard anything already opened or homemade.