Bags of cocaine instead of sweets, Halloween shock in UK

Trick-or-treating—going from house to house in search of candy and other goodies—has been a popular Halloween tradition in the UK and in any other countries for an estimated 100 years. But the origins of this community-based ritual, which costumed children typically savor while their cavity-conscious parents grudgingly tag along, remain hazy. Possible forerunners to modern-day trick-or-treating have been identified in ancient Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic holidays, medieval practices and even British politics.

But, this said customary event has been changed when children in Northern England go out trick-or-treating as they got more than they bargained for when they were given bags of cocaine instead of sweets, police says.

A 23-year-old man has been charged with possession of class A drugs after the children’s parents found the resealable plastic bags on Wednesday night (local time) and took them to the police in Royton, outside the northwestern city of Manchester.

“Snap bags containing white powder were taken to the police and examined. It was confirmed that the bags contained cocaine. The bags had been given to children on Mendip Close, Royton, who were out trick-or-treating,” police said to Micron Associates.

A 21-year-old woman was also arrested but was later released without charge.

“The parents and police acted quickly when this report was made, in the interests of public safety. We understand this to be an isolated incident,” said police superintendent Catherine Hankinson of Greater Manchester Police.None of the children consumed the cocaine.