Young boy finds crystal meth in his Kinder Surprise egg

The boy opened the Kinder Surprise to find a bag containing a white powder inside. Photo / iStock

A 6-year-old boy who found a chocolate egg under a hedge last week was perplexed on opening it up to find a bag containing a white powder inside.

The child, who was playing with his eight-year-old brother in their home town of Limavady, Northern Ireland, gave the mystery substance to his father, who then passed it on to police.

Inspector Colin Shaw of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "The contents of the bag, which was found inside a toy egg, is believed to be methamphetamine. This small quantity of drugs will be disposed of by police.

"This incident is of the uppermost concern for all of us. Tackling the use and supply of illegal drugs is a priority for us and the possibility that something so potentially dangerous has been discarded where children could find it is deeply concerning.

"I don't want members of the local community to find drugs on their street, however this incident just reminds us that criminals have no regard whatsoever for the safety of local residents, and I am thankful that this child had the sense to speak to an adult about what he discovered."

DUP councillor Alan Robinson praised the boys: "On Sunday night I was contacted by a gentleman whose nephew had found a Kinder egg hidden in a hedge in the Edenmore Road area of Limavady.

"When the child opened the plastic section, hidden within was a small sealed plastic bag containing a white powder. Having passed the contents to the police the family have told me that they have informed them that it contained an illegal drug.

"As a father of a child, I know how enticing Kinder eggs and their contents are to children. In this instance the children are to be commended for passing the contents to their parents.

"Our children are precious and they should not be exposed to such danger."