Police in Swindon have issued a warning to parents and carers after seizing a quantity of cannabis-infused gummies packaged to resemble ordinary sweets, alongside hundreds of boxes of vapes suspected to contain cannabis products.
Incident and seizure
Officers responded to reports on Monday 19 July of a man on an e-bike allegedly involved in a suspected drug transaction in the Eldene area. An 18-year-old man was detained at the scene and items believed to be for supply were recovered.
- 40 bags of cannabis-laced gummies, styled like fruit pastilles
- 175 boxes of cannabis-laced vapes
- Cash and mobile phones also seized during the arrest
Health risks and packaging concerns
Police say the gummy products were labelled as containing up to 1,000mg of THC — a concentration described by officers as extremely high. Such a level of tetrahydrocannabinol could be hazardous if consumed, particularly by young children or people who are unaware they are ingesting a psychoactive substance.
“These cannabis-laced gummies are designed to look like ordinary sweets, disguising them to parents and making them particularly appealing and dangerous to children and young people,”
The force has advised families to inspect children's food and sweets, and to be cautious of unfamiliar packaging or items that resemble typical confectionery but may conceal drugs.
Practical advice for parents
Swindon neighbourhood policing recommends:
- Talk to children about the risks of taking unlabelled sweets or accepting items from strangers.
- Check packaging carefully — look for unusual labelling, health claims or information about THC.
- Report any suspicious sales or people offering sweets or vapes in public places to police.
| Item | Quantity seized |
|---|---|
| Cannabis-laced gummies (bagged) | 40 |
| Boxes of cannabis-laced vapes | 175 |
Local officers continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with information about the supply or sale of such products in Swindon is asked to contact Wiltshire Police or report anonymously via Crimestoppers.
This case underlines a growing challenge for communities and emergency services: digital marketplaces and novel packaging make it easier for controlled substances to be disguised as everyday items, increasing the potential for accidental ingestion and harm.
