(Radio Iowa) – The executive director of the Midwest High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) is warning about a new packaging for the deadly drug fentanyl. Daniel Neil says it fentanyl mixed with lidocaine, and then colored purple.

Neil says the goal is to get more people hooked.

Neil says he wouldn’t be surprised to see this approach repeated.

Neil says you should be aware of the dangers of the purple fentanyl and be prepared to react.

Neil’s territory in Iowa covers Blackhawk, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Scott, and Woodbury counties.