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Independence police recover all dolls potentially contaminated with fentanyl

After discovering several Barbie dolls at a local discount store may have been contaminated with fentanyl, the Independence Police Department says all the tainted dolls have been recovered.

The Independence Police Department announced the recovery of the five potentially contaminated dolls on its Facebook page.

In the social media post, the department said investigators were contacted by employees at Cargo Largo, 3232 South Nolan Road, just before 10:30 a.m. Saturday regarding a “suspicious powder substance” found in the package of a Barbie doll.

Officers determined the substance was fentanyl, and later found that five contaminated dolls had been sold, the post said.

The dolls themselves were not contaminated with fentanyl, according to investigators, but the substance was found taped inside the back of the toy’s packaging.

Investigators do not believe any other compromised dolls were sent to other retailers, the post said. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

This story was originally published March 22, 2026 at 11:15 AM.

Caroline Zimmerman
The Kansas City Star
Caroline Zimmerman is the breaking news night reporter for The Star. She is a Kansas City, Kansas, native and a 2024 graduate of the University of Kansas. She has previously written for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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