A New Jersey woman was arrested after New York authorities discovered 15,000 “rainbow fentanyl” pills stuffed inside a Lego box.
New York State drug authorities were investigating suspected drug trafficking on September 28 when they observed Latesha Bush, 48, of Trenton, New Jersey, carrying a black bag wrapped around a large object when entering a vehicle in Manhattan, the drug center of the USA. The Enforcement Administration said Tuesday.
Officials said officers stopped the vehicle and found Bush with two black bags and a Lego container in the back seat. Inside the container were brick-shaped packages covered in black type next to Lego blocks. Authorities said one of the packages was partially opened, revealing the rainbow-colored pills.
Preliminary tests indicated the pills contained fentanyl. Further investigation revealed that Bush had traveled from New Jersey in a rental car and the pills allegedly came from Mexico, authorities said. The pills were printed with an “M” and a “30” to resemble oxycodone pills.
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Officials said it was the largest fentanyl bust in New York City to date. Bush was arrested and charged with first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.
“Rainbow fentanyl is a clear and present danger, and it’s here in New York City,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said in a statement.
“Rainbow fentanyl” has become a growing concern among law enforcement agencies across the country, who say the sweet-looking, colorful synthetic opioid, which is much stronger than morphine , is aimed at young people. Busts have been reported in Arizona, Oregon, California and Washington, DC
But some health experts and toxicologists are viewing the rise of rainbow-colored fentanyl with caution, noting that illicit drugs have featured bright colors for decades.
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