Crystal meth hidden in Kinder Surprise egg opened by 5-year-old boy in Northern Ireland

Police have described their "uttermost concern" in the fact that a five-year-old boy in County Derry, Northern Ireland found methamphetamine hidden inside a Kinder Surprise plastic egg. The boy found the Class A drug inside the yellow plastic egg, which usually contains a small toy, while walking down a street in the Co Down town of Limavady on Monday (30 May 2016).

The boy passed the egg and the illegal substance to his father, who then handed it in to police. Officers believed the highly addictive drug, also known as crystal meth, was hidden inside the egg so it could be smuggled into prison.

Limavady DUP councillor Alan Robinson said a crisis was averted as it would have been "devastating" if the child had ingested the drug.

PSNI Inspector Colin Shaw added: "The contents of the bag, which was found inside a toy egg, is believed to be methamphetamine. This incident is of the uppermost concern for all of us.

"Tackling the use and supply of illegal drugs is a priority for us, and the possibility that something so potentially dangerous has been discarded where children could find it is deeply concerning.

We work continually with partners in education, youth provision and health services to educate young people about the dangers of drugs and to deter them from becoming involved in drugs.

"This incident just reminds us that criminals have no regard whatsoever for the safety of local residents, and I am thankful that this child had the sense to speak to an adult about what he discovered."