Lloydminster RCMP are encouraging residents to be vigilant after reports of drugs in Halloween candy.
On Monday, November 2, the police received five reports in the city of foreign objects in trick-or-treat bags, including a blister pack of medication, a loose pill, and a Snickers bar with a white pill with the letters APO stamped on it shoved inside, and the package resealed.
“The RCMP are just urging people inside of Lloydminster to double-check candies,” said Constable Grant Kirzinger. “Go through your child’s trick-or-treat bag, look for any homemade candy, look for anything that has twist wrappers on it, anything that may have been opened, and just throw those away. When in doubt, throw it out.”
Facebook was abuzz with rumours when the news first broke, including claims that some children had received chip bags with pins inside them. Kirzinger encouraged people not to spread misinformation.
“We want to caution people when using social media to not perpetuate unsubstantiated rumours,” Kirzinger said. “Use social media for positive, proactive means.”
Kirzinger also says that if any parents discover medication or tampered candy, that they report it to the RCMP, and give the police the candy and medication so that they can investigate.
Lloydminster is not the only community in which tampered candy has been found. Grande Prairie RCMP say a man discovered a mini Snickers bar with a pill shoved inside it, while Bonnyville RCMP received a report of a child finding a chewy, fruity candy containing a white pill with the letters APO stamped on it.
The RCMP say that so far, no chidren have been hurt.