Rainbow’ Fentanyl Found In LEGO Box, Mercer Woman Charged

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Trenton woman was charged after Federal agents found 15,000 “rainbow” fentanyl pills hidden in LEGO box for distribution, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said Tuesday.

This seizure is the largest to date in New York City, the DEA said.

Latesha Bush of Trenton was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees.

The DEA said around 15,000 fentanyl pills were imprinted with “M” and “30” to resemble “30 M,” Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg pills.

The bust took place Sept. 28 around 7:11 p.m. Authorities were conducting surveillance as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking when they observed Bush carrying a black tote bag wrapped around a large object as she entered a vehicle in front of 475 10th Avenue in Manhattan, the DEA said.

Upon stopping the vehicle, agents and officers found Bush in the rear seat, with two black tote bags and a yellow LEGO container, according to the DEA. Inside the LEGO container were several brick-shaped packages covered in black tape lying next to LEGO blocks. The black tape covering one of the packages had been partially opened, exposing multi-colored pills inside, the DEA said.

Further investigation of the package revealed they contained approximately 15,000 pills.

“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,” Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said.

The feds said the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel are mass-producing fentanyl pills in rainbow colors not only to brand their products but to mimic candy or prescription drugs.

“Approximately forty percent of the pills we analyze in our lab contain a lethal dose; and in a recent 15-week enforcement operation, DEA New York seized half a million lethal pills,” Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA said.

Bush was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Sept. 30. Bail was set at $25,000 cash/$150,000 insurance company bond/$100,000 partially secured surety bond.

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