Parents are being warned about cannabis edibles designed to look like Sour Patch sweets, following a series of raids in East Sussex.
Police attended addresses in Bexhill Road, St Leonards, and Preston Road, Bexhill, on Monday 8 August after receiving information from the community.
Along with a large amount of edibles, officers found more than 5kg of cannabis and cannabis resin, as well as nearly £5,000 in cash.
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Two men aged 33 and 34 were arrested on ‘being concerned in the supply of cannabis’, before being released under investigation as enquiries continue.
Inspector Aidan Cornwall said: “This was a significant operation with more than 150 separate items seized during lengthy searches at both addresses. It was an operation that also highlights our commitment to listening to the community’s concerns and following up on the information we receive.
“Cannabis edibles can be incredibly dangerous. For one, they are often packaged in brightly-coloured and professional-looking packaging which can not only look like legitimate food, but can also be particularly appealing to children and young people.
“However, these items are produced in often unsanitary conditions and with no quality-control, meaning those consuming these products have no idea what the strength of them will be, nor what contaminants they may also contain.
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“The consumption of cannabis edibles has been linked with a number of hospitalisations and even deaths, and so we are particularly pleased to have removed such a large quantity from circulation.”
Earlier this year, police in London also issued a warning about the dangers of cannabis sweets following the death of a 23-year-old woman in Ilford.
She had purchased the sweets via a messaging app on 29 March, and they were delivered to her in ‘child-friendly packaging with Trrlli Peachie O’s branding’ at her home address.
The woman and a 21-year-old friend each ate one sweet, which were made with a synthetic cannabinoid, and both ‘immediately felt unwell’, with emergency services called to the property at around 11.30pm that evening.
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Both women were taken to an east London hospital for treatment, but sadly the 23-year-old later died on Saturday 2 April.
The second woman was discharged following hospital treatment.
One man was arrested on Friday 1 April after being found with a ‘large quantity of cash and what were believed to be the edible cannabis products’.
The following day, he was charged the following day with possession with intent to supply Class B synthetic cannabinoid, being concerned in the supply of a synthetic cannabinoid, and possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, of the Met’s East Area Basic Command Unit, said: “I must warn the public against taking any illegal substances, including those packaged in the form of cannabis sweets.
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“Please do not buy or consume these products. They are illegal and, because of the child-friendly packaging, they can pose a risk of accidental consumption.
“The particular batch of sweets were contained in packaging featuring Trrlli Peachie O’s branding. It has not been confirmed at this stage where the sweets were manufactured.
“Drug dealers harm communities and risk the safety of individuals. We will take positive action to target those engaged in this activity as well as those found in possession of these substances.”
Jess Hardiman