Police in Independence, Missouri, have reported that fentanyl was discovered inside the packaging of five Barbie dolls sold at a local discount store. The store's security alerted authorities after noticing a 'suspicious powder substance' in the doll packages.
Officers tested the substance on Saturday and confirmed it was fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Authorities then worked with the store, Cargo Largo, to trace the sold items and successfully recovered all five compromised units later that day.
According to the police statement, the investigation revealed that the dolls themselves were not contaminated; the fentanyl was taped inside the back of the packaging. There is no evidence that other retailers received affected units, and no injuries have been reported.
The dolls were sold between 19 and 20 March. Jeremiah Hall of Healing House, a Kansas City substance abuse recovery non-profit, highlighted the extreme danger of fentanyl, noting that 'a couple of grains of salt can kill somebody.'
Fentanyl has been a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, which reached a record high of over 111,000 in 2022 before beginning to decline, according to federal data. The investigation remains active.
