Wednesday 28 September 2022 08:23 AM Images show rainbow-colored fentanyl disguised as Skittles and Nerds candy trends now A drug that's contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans last year has been found hidden in Skittles and Nerds packaging - and could be peddled to young children via social media, experts say. During the period of May 23 to September 8 this year, 10.2 million fentanyl pills and about 980 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized by the the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of the One Pill Can Kill initiative. Of the 390 cases investigated during this period, 51 cases have been linked to overdose poisonings and 35 cases link directly to one or both of the primary Mexican cartels responsible for the majority of fentanyl in the United States – the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). In addition, 129 investigations are linked to social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok. The DEA have sent a stern warning to parents to educate themselves as children prepare for the spooky season, with a former specialist warning that 'this is not a drug issue, it's a mass poisoning.' A recent seizure in Connecticut found 15,000 fentanyl pills stashed in Skittles and Nerds packaging, and with Halloween just weeks away, the DEA is urging parents to be vigilant. Parents are being urged to get educated on fentanyl as thousands of pills were found in skittles and nerds candy packets, as children gear up to go trick or treating this Halloween Former DEA special operations director Derek Maltz (pictured) says it's mass poisoning and parents need to be educated The the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have linked fentanyl investigations to social media platforms including Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, or the amount that could fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered potentially lethal Attorney General Merrick B. Garland told the DEA that the drug has had a devastating impact on the community. 'Across the country, fentanyl is devastating families and communities, and we know that violent, criminal drug cartels bear responsibility for this crisis,' said Garland. 'The Justice Department, including the extraordinary professionals of the DEA, is working to disrupt and dismantle the operations of these cartels, remove deadly fentanyl from our communities, and save Americans' lives.' DEA administrator Anne Milgram said cracking down on the fentanyl crisis has been a priority. 'The most urgent threat to our communities, our kids, and our families are the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG who are mass producing and supplying the fentanyl that is poisoning and killing Americans,' said Milgram. 'The Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG are ruthless, criminal organizations that use deception and treachery to drive addiction with complete disregard for human life. 'To save American lives, the DEA is relentlessly focused on defeating the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG by degrading their operations to make it impossible for them to do business.' Attorney General Merrick B. Garland told the DEA that the drug has had a devastating impact on the community, especially if unsuspecting children receive the drug concealed as candy Rainbow fentanyl was first reported to DEA in February 2022, and it has now been seized in 21 states across the country Of the 107,622 Americans who have died from drug poisoning or overdose in 2021, 66 percent (approx. 71,030) is attributed to fentanyl Former DEA special operations director Derek Maltz told Fox and Friends that it's important for parents to be educated about the dangers kids face from drugs. 'We're seeing an unprecedented amount of kids dying as young as 13 years old and we know now, the DEA says, that 40 percent of the pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl,' he said. '[Parents] have to be proactive. Its deadly fentanyl, and it's flooding our streets like we've never seen. 'This is not a drug issue, it's a mass poisoning.' Of the 107,622 Americans who have died from drug poisoning or overdose in 2021, 66 percent (approximately 71,030) is attributed to fentanyl. The DEA said drug traffickers have expanded their inventory to sell fentanyl in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes. Rainbow fentanyl was first reported to DEA in February 2022, and it has now been seized in 21 states across the country. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, or the amount that could fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility