CLEVELAND — A new and troubling trend has the DEA issuing a warning about illegal pills seized on the streets of Northeast Ohio.
Watch the story tonight at 5 p.m.
At first glance, the multi-colored tablets might pass for candy. The colors, shapes and emblems look kid friendly but in fact the pills are downright dangerous.
The pastel colored tablets are methamphetamine pills seized for the first time in our area.
"We seized thousands of meth pills which is something new," said Keith Martin, DEA Special Agent in Charge.
For the last couple of years, there has been a steady increase in meth coming into Ohio. In 2018, 140 pounds of the drug was seized from a Boston Heights warehouse, it's believed to be the largest meth bust in Ohio history.
"We've definitely seen an increase, " said Carole Negus, Director of Nursing Stella Maris.
Negus said in the last five months she has seen a sharp increase of patients coming to the facility who have used the drug.
The pills are being made and shipped to Northeast Ohio from drug cartels, said Martin.
"It's easier to get through the mail or across the border in pill form instead of pounds of meth. We know the cartels are sitting on stockpiles of illicit drugs because of the disruption in the supply chain," said Martin. "The supply chain was disrupted because of the pandemic."
The DEA is warning parents to be on alert and to talk to children about the new, troubling trend.
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