Ronald McDonald House worker hospitalised after eating meth-laced lolly from Auckland City Mission food parcel
- Police are investigating a person allegedly attempting to sell a meth-laced lolly online
- Lollies donated to Auckland City Mission containing methamphetamine were sent out in food parcels.
- Police have recovered more than 30 of the lollies and one other person has been taken to hospital.
A second charity has received methamphetamine-laced lollies and one of its workers was sent to hospital after trying one.
Ronald McDonald House in Auckland said they had inadvertently received the supposed lollies in a food parcel from the Auckland City Mission.
Two families being housed by the charity while their children are sick in hospital were given food parcels including the fake lollies.
Ronald McDonald House Charities chief executive Wayne Howett said neither family tried any lollies. But a staff member had and needed medical attention at Auckland City Hospital.
“We are supporting them throughout this process and are pleased to say that they are recovering,” Howett told the Herald.
“The matter has been reported to the police and we are doing everything we can to assist with the investigation.”
The charity had handed one package of the contaminated lollies to police via Auckland Hospital.
A second package had been thrown away by a family.
The revelation comes as police say they have recovered another slew of the meth-laced lollies this afternoon.
Earlier, police said they had begun investigating a person who was allegedly attempting to sell one of the meth-laced lollies on Facebook Marketplace.
Police have revealed they have now recovered 32 lollies laced with meth donated to the City Mission and distributed in food parcels after seizing 13 overnight, and another this afternoon.
Another child was taken to hospital bringing the total number of people who have sought medical attention to four.
Meanwhile, Auckland City Mission is still scrambling to track down 428 families who may have also been given the sweets that contain about 3g of methamphetamine.
“We can confirm 16 whānau have advised us they received the lollies and have been offered guidance as to appropriate next steps,” the Mission said in a statement on Thursday.
“As noted in the media stand up yesterday, Auckland City Missioner - Manutaki Helen Robinson acknowledged there may be more than one packet in circulation.
“This forms part of the current investigation, and the Mission continues to work closely with police in support of their enquiries.”
Rinda, the company that produces the lollies, released a statement today and said the “safety and well-being of customers” is their highest priority.
“We recognise the seriousness of this situation and understand the concerns it raises.”
The company said it would be working with New Zealand authorities.
Detector Inspector Greg Baldwin said police were in the early stages of investigating reports a man was selling the lollies on Facebook Marketplace.
“We are taking this report very seriously, but inquiries are in the early stages.
“Dealing a Class A drug is a serious offence and we will not tolerate this.”
Baldwin said police had contacted Rinda, the Malaysia-based lolly company in whose branding the meth was wrapped, as part of their investigation.
He said police still had an open mind about how the meth came to be packaged.
Baldwin also said police were continuing to work with other authorities overseas and in New Zealand.
Yesterday, Baldwin said the public could be assured police were treating this matter “extremely seriously”.
He thanked the Auckland City Mission for its co-operation and said the charity had done nothing wrong.
Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm said the white lolly was brought into a checking clinic on Tuesday afternoon.
It contained about 3g of methamphetamine.
“A common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses,” Helm said.
“Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death.
“We don’t know how widespread these contaminated lollies are, so we recommend not eating any Rinda brand pineapple lollies if you have them.”
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.