According to US authorities, the dolls were not contaminated, but the drug was found on the back of the packaging.
US authorities found fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, in packaging of Barbie dolls for sale at a discount store in the city of Independence, Missouri.
Security personnel at the establishment, Cargo Largo, alerted local police on Saturday morning after detecting “a suspicious powdery substance” in the box of a Barbie.
In a statement cited by Spanish news agency EFE, the Independence Police Department explained that it determined the substance was fentanyl and “immediately began an investigation with Cargo Largo to determine how many compromised units had been sold.”
In a first version of the note, the Police reported that five units contained fentanyl and that four had already been located. In a later update, it specified that the fifth package was also now “in police custody.”
According to authorities, the dolls were not contaminated, but the drug was found on the back of Barbie’s packaging.
The police, who are continuing the investigation, assured that no one was intoxicated and that they do not believe there were other packages containing fentanyl in other stores.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, about 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It is used as a medicine in hospitals to treat severe pain, but it is also manufactured illegally and sold as a medicine.
This opioid has triggered a serious addiction crisis in the United States and is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the country, as a small amount can be fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs.
However, in 2025 there was a close to 17% drop in overdose deaths compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
