New Zealand police investigate Meth-laced sweets distributed by Auckland charity

New Zealand police have issued a public alert for anyone in possession of sweets wrapped in Rinda’s yellow pineapple flavor packaging to contact them immediately.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin described the situation as “deeply worrying” and emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding the hazardous sweets.

He noted that similar incidents of food laced with methamphetamine have occurred before and that the investigation may involve Interpol, which could extend the timeline for resolution.

Rinda, the Malaysian confectioner whose packaging was involved, stated that their products may have been misused and confirmed that they do not use or condone illegal drugs in their sweets.

The company expressed its commitment to cooperating with law enforcement to address the issue and protect their brand’s integrity. Rinda’s general manager, Steven Peh, noted that the contaminated candy shown in photos was white, whereas Rinda’s product is yellow.

Authorities are still assessing the scope of the contamination. To date, 16 packets have been recovered, but the exact number of sweets in these packets is unknown.

The police estimate that each packet could contain 20-30 sweets. The Auckland City Mission has contacted 300-400 people who may have received the contaminated sweets.

Ben Birks Ang, deputy director of the NZ Drug Foundation, speculated that the incident was likely not intentional, suggesting that disguising substances as something else to smuggle them is a common tactic. Nonetheless, there are concerns that other charities might also be affected by similar issues.

Helen Robinson, chief executive of Auckland City Mission, expressed deep distress over the incident, noting the high prevalence of food insecurity in New Zealand.

She has reached out to other charities to ensure their sweets are not compromised, emphasizing the devastating impact of the situation on those in need.

“To say we are devastated is an absolute understatement,” she told the press, adding that one in five in New Zealand experience food insecurity, which makes the incident “deeply distressing”.