Rainbow-colored fentanyl reaches Treasure Coast

MARTIN COUNTY/Fla. (CBS12) — Earlier this week, we took a look at the fentanyl epidemic on the Treasure Coast but now, there’s a new twist to the tale.

Colored fentanyl, also known by the moniker 'rainbow fentanyl,' has also made its way to the area.

This week, deputies with the Martin County Sheriff's Office made their first arrest involving rainbow fentanyl - arresting two men on Tuesday - but Sheriff William Snyder says he expects more to show up.

“The tip of the iceberg, it’s the canary in the coal mine. If we see one shipment, we’re probably going to see more,” Snyder said.

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Sheriff Snyder warned residents - fentanyl is already in our area - and more of it is most likely on the way.

He says the drugs are colored by dealers to separate their product from other sellers.

“They color their fentanyl to differentiate one salesperson from the other," the sheriff stated. "We know in our undercover operation he was bragging ‘this is good stuff, this is the real stuff,’ and so he shows up with a certain color, kind of his imprint that ‘this is my brand.'"

The colorful drug - looks like candy. Indian River County Sheriff's Lieutenant Joe Abollo says the colors can signify different concentrations of the drug.

“Some are more lethal than others depending on how much is in that specific pill but it depends on the lab, where it came from and who’s making it,” he explained.

Authorities say it's not just specific to fentanyl.

The new tactic is being used on multiple drugs - causing a headache for law enforcement - and putting parents on alert.

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“We’ve had recent search warrants where we’ve had heroin, LSD-laced in children’s candy that, or candy that looks like it would be for a school kid, so that is a big concern,” added Lt. Matthew Cuba of the Port St. Lucie Police Department's Special Investigations Division.

With Halloween around the corner, authorities are urging parents to be extra careful in screening the candy their kids get ahold of.

“I think that because we now have seen rainbow fentanyl here, every parent needs to be doubly careful what candy their children are getting their hands on,” Sheriff Snyder said.

“We’re just asking them to be more cautious, be careful where you go, don’t just randomly go to strange neighborhoods,” Lt. Abollo chimed in.

All three agencies stressed that there have been no signs to suggest that the colors are being marketed for kids, but that parents should be more careful when going door-to-door these next few days.