"Rainbow" fentanyl pills found at scene of Mankato shooting
MANKATO, Minn. -- A new warning tonight for parents that a dangerous drug is now in Minnesota, and it's designed to look like candy.
The Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force says that a number of brightly-colored fentanyl pills were found at one of the residences involved in last week's shooting incident in Mankato.
Task force agents working alongside the Mankato Department of Public Safety say that the multi-color pills had an "M" stamped on one side and "30" on the other. They tested positive for fentanyl. The MRVDTF says this is the first time it has encountered these multi-colored pills in the area.
The DEA has warned the public about the pills, which it says are being used to target young people. The street name for these pills is "Rainbow."
"Rainbow fentanyl — fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes — is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults," DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement.
The pills are stamped with an M one side and 30 on the other.
"We saw it for the first time on Friday the 16th," Lt. Jeff Wersal, with the MRVDTF, said.
Wersal says dealers are targeting kids with these potentially deadly pills.
"I want people to know it can come in all forms," Wersal said.
Officers also seized powder and blocks that look like sidewalk chalk, all making fentanyl look harmless.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of salt, is considered a lethal dose.
"We've been warning people to watch out for these blue pills these fake blue pills and now I think they are making them multi-colored just for that reason for people to not think they are dangerous and targeted towards younger people," Wersal said.
"We're seeing our young people in the bus shelters passed out from smoking fentanyl," said Lisa Clemons.
Police in urban areas have been dealing with young people smoking blue pills or fentanyl at bus stops, with lots of overdoses in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Mankato has seen its share of blue fentanyl, now they are dealing with rainbow fentanyl and the possibility children may be targeted.
"Definitely need to talk to our kids about this make sure they don't take anything a friend or another student gives them the only prescription they should be taking is if a doctor of pharmacists has given them," Wersal said.
Police encourage parents to talk with their kids about rainbow fentanyl.
Law enforcement believe the illegal pills are coming from the southern border near Mexico.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021, with synthetic opioids accounting for about 71,000 of those.
