A new drug that looks like candy is causing alarm in Guyana, and the country’s anti-drug agency is scrambling to stop it before it spreads.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has launched a campaign against ‘Strawberry Quick’, a type of meth that’s designed to look like strawberry-flavored pop rocks. It’s a nasty trick aimed at kids and teens, making a dangerous drug seem harmless and fun.

CANU’s head, James Singh, didn’t mince words when he spoke to reporters last week. “This stuff is poison dressed up as a treat,” he said. “We’re not waiting for it to become a problem. We’re hitting it hard now.”

The drug first showed up in Trinidad, and now it’s creeping into Guyana. CANU agents have already found it in some clubs and parties around Georgetown.

What makes ‘Strawberry Quick’ so scary is how it looks and tastes. It’s pink, smells like strawberries, and fizzes in your mouth like pop rocks. A kid could easily mistake it for candy and end up in serious trouble.

Dr. Karen Cole, who works at the Georgetown Public Hospital, explained why it’s so dangerous. “Meth is bad enough for adults,” she said. “For kids, it can mess up their brains for life. And because this looks like candy, they might take way too much before anyone realizes what’s happening.”

CANU isn’t just trying to catch dealers. They’re also working to educate people. They’ve been visiting schools, talking to parents, and even set up a hotline for tips.

But some folks think CANU needs to do more. Mark Ramsey, a teacher in Linden, told us, “It’s good they’re warning people, but what about treatment? What if kids get hooked? We need more than just arrests.”

As Guyana deals with this new threat, everyone’s on edge. Parents are checking their kids’ candy more carefully, and teachers are keeping a closer eye on what students bring to school.

CANU says they’ll keep fighting, but they need help from everyone to keep ‘Strawberry Quick’ from becoming Guyana’s next big drug problem.