Warning issued over possible fentanyl contamination of Barbie dolls sold at Missouri discount store

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (WDAF) – Police in Independence, Missouri, are warning shoppers after Barbie dolls sold at a local discount store were found to have possibly been contaminated with fentanyl.

On Saturday, Independence Police say they were notified by security at Cargo Largo that a specific style of dolls may have become contaminated before arriving at the store.

A customer brought the packaging of one such doll back, and there was powder found beneath the tape. Police said the powder tested positive for fentanyl, and the packaging appeared to have been tampered with. The Drug Indictment Unit was called in, according to police.

Jade Adams, who purchased one of the Barbie dolls, was shocked by the findings.

“When [Adams’ husband] opened it with a knife, it was like, poof, in the car,” Adams told Nexstar’s WDAF, describing the substance. “We were like, ‘What is that?'”Adams’ mom knew something had to be done to ensure others’ safety after discovering the dangerous drug attached to the doll.

“She went to Cargo Largo and was like, ‘You need to get these Barbies; you need to get all these Barbies,'” Adams explained. “So, they filled a whole cart up of these Barbies and took them to security and were like, ‘You need to check all of these Barbies.'”

“They could have dusted that all over themselves, their house, wherever they opened it,” Adams said. “Like, it’s not just me, it’s really just the kids for me. That’s my baby, that’s my last baby, that’s terrifying.”

Five of the contaminated Barbie dolls were sold, and all of them have now been recovered.

Police say there is no reason to believe compromised units were sent to other retailers, and no injuries have been reported. They also stated this is a common tactic used by drug cartels and smugglers.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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