Ashley Moody warns that fentanyl ‘Nerds’ candy could be drug cartels’ next Halloween trick

MOODY
'We're seeing them put it in candy packaging.'

Florida’s Attorney General continues to spotlight the border crisis, noting that its effects are spilling over into all aspects of life.

That includes, apparently, the venerable ritual of trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Ashley Moody offered Fox & Friends a warning about how transnational drug gangs are bringing in lethal narcotic cocktails, adding that some of these concoctions may take the form of popular candies.

“We’re seeing them put it in candy packaging, like Nerds packaging. And Halloween’s coming up and those of us with young children have to have these conversations and start learning about the fentanyl crisis and warning our children,” Moody said.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has warned about so-called “rainbow fentanyl,” an “alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl” designed to appeal to “children and young people.”

Nerds and Skittles, according to the trade publication Packaging Strategies, are among the commercial brands mimicked by these toxic confections.

Host Ainsley Earhardt set up the topic Wednesday morning, noting that “so many people are sending their children off to college right now. It’s fall. The fall semester. And we worry that they’re going to take one little pill just because it looks like candy. It doesn’t look like it can hurt you.”

“They might think it’s Adderall or something else,” Earhardt added. “They need it to stay up and study. And the next thing you know: Boom, they’re no longer alive.”

Moody said that illustrated why she was “urging parents to have these conversations with their children.”

“They don’t know what they’re taking. It’s frightening to see rainbow-colored pills coming through the border.”

Moody described the crisis in zero-sum terms, noting that the weight seized during recent operations could decimate the Sunshine State if deployed to do so.

“Just in the last month, we’ve seized enough fentanyl across our state to almost kill our entire population,” Moody contended.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


7 comments

  • Tom Dumbass

    October 12, 2022 at 10:14 am

    I took fentanyl laced meth. That’s why I’m mentally crippled.

  • Corey

    October 12, 2022 at 10:57 am

    Okay, now let’s finish the investigative journalism. The article in “Packaging Strategies” cited the New York Post (a tabloid), whose article was originally published by Fox news. The photo allegedly comes from the Connecticut US Attorney’s office. We need verification that the huge bag of blue fentanyl pills was removed from the boxes of Skittles and Nerds in that photo, because this is a outlandish claim that needs appropriate substantiation, and should NOT be taken at face value.

  • C Perizzolo

    October 12, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    I’m sorry but I don’t think they are targeting kids. That would be stupid on their part. You don’t kill future customers. I think they’re being packed that way so, if they get pulled over, they can tell the cops the candy is for a Halloween party, they’re actually bulk packed kids vitamins, or something. But I don’t think actually being aimed at kids.

  • Dr Nile Barnes

    October 12, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    Ridiculous. No cartel is going to throw away money by giving away free samples to folks that don’t know it… That does not drum up business. “We are seeing…” is code for “I made it up.”

  • Tjb

    October 13, 2022 at 11:24 am

    Just an unfounded BS political stunt to promote a flawed agenda to create fear of the folks south of our border. Looks like Ashley has no knowledge on how the drug cartel function … is she capable to lead the prevention of drugs in Florida?

  • Linwood Wright

    October 20, 2022 at 3:35 pm

    Ohhhhhh scaarrrry!
    Nobody is giving away drugs for free as prank you clueless boomer.

  • Andrew Finn

    October 23, 2022 at 5:43 pm

    Okay Ashley – you taste and test everyone’s candy. If you go bananas or fall on your face, it will solve next month’s election problem. ——– Hoo Haa !!!!!!!!

Comments are closed.


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