Investigators seized 15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills packed in LEGO boxes from a New Jersey woman last week.Drug Enforcement Administration
A New Jersey woman was arrested after police seized 15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills packed in a LEGO box after she got into a vehicle near the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City last week.
NYPD officers investigating drug trafficking saw Latesha Bush, 48, of Trenton, enter the back seat of a vehicle on the 400 block of 10th Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. on Sept. 28, authorities said. She was carrying a black tote bag wrapped around a large object, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said Tuesday.
In the back seat were two black tote bags and a yellow LEGO container, officials said. The LEGO box held several brick-shaped packages covered in black tape next to LEGO blocks, officials said. The black tape covering one of the packages had been partially opened, exposing multi-colored pills inside, officials said.
The fentanyl pills were also imprinted with “M” and “30″ to resemble “30 M,” oxycodone hydrochloride 30 mg pills, according to investigators.
The pills originated in Mexico and were going to be sold throughout New York City, officials said.
“Using happy colors to make a deadly drug seem fun and harmless is a new low, even for the Mexican cartels,” New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said in a statement.
Bush was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The DEA said it has seized 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder — about 356 million doses — from May 23 to Sept. 8, 2022.
“Disguising fentanyl as candy – and concealing it in children’s toys – will never hide the fact that fentanyl is a deadly poison that harms our communities, our families, and our city,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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