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LOS ANGELES – Just weeks before Halloween, narcotics officials said they seized 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills that were hidden in bags of candy and snacks.

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that its narcotics bureau agents were working on a task force with the Drug Enforcement Agency at the Los Angeles International Airport when they found the pills on Oct. 19.

Fentanyl in candy boxes seized at airport

Blue pills are seen inside of a candy bag.

Deputies said the suspect tried to go through the TSA screening checkpoint with several bags of candy and snacks. Inside some of the boxes and bags of “Skittles,” “SweeTARTS” and “Whoppers,” deputies said they found approximately 12,000 pills.

Drugs found in candy boxes

Investigators said they found approximately 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills hidden in candy boxes.

Photos included with the news release show a number of different candies and snacks, some of which appear filled with small blue pills.

Deputies said that while the suspect ran away before being detained, officers have been able to identify them and are continuing the investigation.

The drug seizure comes as authorities issued a recent warning that drug dealers have been using candy wrappers and rainbow dyes to disguise fentanyl, The Associated Press reported.

‘Rainbow’ fentanyl warning: DEA says brightly colored pills, powder used to target young users

Deputies said in the news release that concerned parents should always check their children’s candy and if anything seems strange, do not touch it and call your local law enforcement agency.