Mum finds Fentanyl in Barbie doll package she bought from discount store

Tuesday, March, 24 2026 - A mum was shocked to discover fentanyl inside a Barbie doll box she bought for her young daughter. 

On Saturday, March 21, Jade Adams purchased one of the tampered Barbie dolls from Cargo Largo in Independence while shopping with her husband and daughter. 

At approximately 10:18am local time, Independent Police Department (IPD) was contacted by Cargo Largo Security regarding a suspicious powder substance located in the packaging of a Barbie Doll. 

IPD determined the substance was fentanyl and immediately began an investigation with Cargo Largo to determine how many compromised units were sold. 

A police spokesperson said: "It was determined five compromised units were sold. IPD has tracked down four of the units. Only one unit remains outstanding and we have an active lead we are working to track it down. 

"IPD's investigation revealed the Barbie Dolls themselves were not compromised. Fentanyl was discovered taped inside the back packaging of the dolls. There is no reason to believe compromised units were sent to other retailers and no injuries have been reported. This remains an active investigation." 

Adams said she went back to the convenience store to warn the staff to get the dolls off the shelves. 

Adams told WDAF how she was terrified at the thought of how things could have gone much worse. 

She said: "They could have dusted that all over themselves, their house, wherever they opened it. Like, it's not just me, it's really just the kids for me. That's my baby, that's my last baby, that's terrifying." 

Writing on Facebook Adams wrote: "Me and my parents brought this to light for them! I bought my daughter a Barbie yesterday and opened it to find a back full of drugs!!! In the children’s toys is sick."

Fentanyl is a strong type of "opioid painkiller", which is used to treat severe pain, for example, during or after an operation or a serious injury. Doctors have to prescribe this medicine, which blocks pain signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and has also been found to reduce the anxiety and stress caused by pain.