Meth lollies: Auckland police find more sweets, begin investigating City Mission’s CCTV footage

The Auckland City Mission has discovered lollies donated by an unknown member of the public contain potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine. Photos / NZ Drug Foundation / Auckland City Mission

Auckland police say 75 blocks of methamphetamine disguised as Rinda-brand lollies have now made it into the community, coming as they begin investigating security camera footage from the City Mission.

The Auckland City Mission reported one of their food parcel recipients had inadvertently received a “funny tasting” lolly last Tuesday. Mission staff then tried the supposed lollies, agreed they tasted odd, then began to “feel funny”.

In the following days, it was revealed Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and two families being cared for by the charity had received the lollies and had fallen unwell. A staff member was hospitalised after trying one. RMHC received the parcels from the City Mission.

Police have been trying to urgently track the lollies down in the community, lest another person try eating one.

Today, Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police had obtained security camera footage from the Auckland City Mission’s centre on Boston Rd in Grafton.

“Footage will be processed over the coming days to then be analysed for further lines of inquiry,” Baldwin said.

What the lollies look like with the wrapper removed. Photo / NZ Drug Foundation

“This part of the inquiry involves detailed work and will take some time to work through.”

He said police had now recovered 44 of the lollies from the community. Police believed there were about 75 lollies that got into the community in total, he said.

“While we have 44 of the blocks in our custody, we are still working through a raft of information provided by families that they also received some of these lollies,” Baldwin said.

Another man needed medical attention after eating a supposed lolly over the weekend, he said.

Police have been aware of at least one person who has allegedly tried selling one of the lollies on Facebook Marketplace, and Baldwin has today reiterated his warning to those trying to fob them off.

“Dealing methamphetamine is a serious offence and we do not tolerate this whatsoever.”

Police have been asking anyone with a Rinda-brand lolly to phone 105 or 111 and quote file number 240813/5919.

Anyone concerned they had eaten one should go to their nearest healthcare provider. People could also phone the national poison line on 0800 764 766.

Two more police officers have joined the investigation team working on the case, pushing the number of staff on Operation Tirade up to eight.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin holds up a photo of the Rinda-branded meth-laced lollies found in food parcels given to needy families. Photo / Alex Burton

Baldwin said police would work with Customs and Interpol as the investigation focused on where the drugs came from and how they ended up with the City Mission.

Police have been in contact with the company whose branding the methamphetamine was wrapped.

Each supposed lolly is actually a 3g block of meth. The Drug Foundation said this would be enough for 300 doses of the Class A drug.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.