Collaborative Announcement by the Prosecutor's Office of Braunschweig, the Wolfenbüttel Police Department, and the City Government of Wolfenbüttel
In a concerning incident, a 1.5-year-old toddler was exposed to narcotics at the playground located on Geibelstraße/Ackerstraße in Wolfenbüttel on September 1, 2025.
The mother was the first person present on the playground when the child arrived around 17:00. The child's unusual behaviour, apathy, loss of appetite, and strong fixation on a toy raised concerns for the mother. Shortly after, the father of the child arrived and noticed similar symptoms.
Upon arrival at the Clinic in Braunschweig, the child's symptoms suggested intoxication. A urine test confirmed the presence of cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, and ecstasy. Further blood tests to confirm and quantify the substances are pending.
The affected child remains in the pediatric intensive care unit, but is not in life-threatening condition.
The playground was closed by the police and the city of Wolfenbüttel for a thorough search with drug-sniffing dogs. Despite the search, no further narcotics were found. The playground was reopened on September 4, 2025, at 15:00.
The city administration and police urge parents and guardians to closely supervise their children during playground visits. It is strongly recommended to prevent children from picking up or putting unknown objects in their mouths.
For further inquiries, contact the Police Wolfenbüttel Press Office/Public Relations at Lina Heidrich (05331/933-104, [email protected], http://www.polizei.niedersachsen.de). Suspicious observations or objects should be immediately reported to the relevant authorities.
During the incident, the mother of the child was present with two children on the playground. The child mainly played in the northeastern area of the playground. During the car ride, the child vomited a "plastic-like" material.
The police and city administration express their concern for the safety of all children using the playground and remind the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities or objects.
