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US: Police recover drugs under trapdoor from a daycare where 1-year-old died of suspected fentanyl overdose

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 22 Sep 2023

US: Police recover drugs under trapdoor from a daycare where 1-year-old died of suspected fentanyl overdose

Photo Courtesy: NYPD News X page

Police have recovered a large quantity of fentanyl, other drugs and paraphernalia under a trapdoor at a  New York City nursery in the US where a child had died due to exposure to the opioid.

On its X page, New York Police wrote: "As part of an ongoing overdose fatality investigation in a Bronx daycare center on 9/15/23, a search warrant was conducted by @NYPDDetectives. A large quantity of Fentanyl, other narcotics, & drug paraphernalia was recovered in a trap floor in the play area at the daycare center."

Police also shared images of the recovered items.

Police was quoted as saying by BBC that the volume of drugs could have killed 500,000 people.

The nursery's owner and her tenant are facing federal charges. Authorities are still searching for her husband who was caught on camera fleeing the scene, the British media reported.

Last year, a one-year-old died due to suspected drug overdose at the daycare center.

Nicholas Dominici had been at the Divino Niño nursery for just a week. Fentanyl had been hidden in the nap room under a mat as he slept, police told BBC.

Three other children were also admitted to the hospital after being exposed to the narcotic.

An analysis of one of the victim's urine confirmed the presence of the narcotic.

The nursery's owner, Grei Mendez, 36, and her tenant, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, are facing federal charges of narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in death, and conspiracy charges, according to prosecutors, reports BBC.