SAN LUIS, AZ — A welfare check on a 10-year-old girl who was reportedly left home alone in western Arizona led police to a stash of methamphetamine hidden inside a plush toy, according to San Luis police.
Officers were sent to the home in Yuma County on Sept. 22 after reports that the child was unsupervised and not attending school. During the check, officers said they detected illegal narcotics in the residence, which led detectives to obtain and execute a search warrant immediately.
What police say they found was unusual even before the drug count was tallied: a stuffed toy resembling the viral Labubu doll, with the toy’s head cut open and sealed with clear packing tape.
Police say the hidden drugs were packed inside a toy resembling the viral Labubu doll
San Luis police said the search uncovered 84 individual baggies containing methamphetamine inside what appeared to be a knockoff version of the popular Labubu plush doll. The collectible, created by Pop Mart, became a global trend in 2025 for its elf-like face and toothy grin.
Evidence photos released by police show the baggies spread across a counter next to the stuffed monster toy. The images also appear to show how the concealment was done, with the plush open at the head and then wrapped back together with tape.
The case drew attention because of the way the drugs were hidden, but police focused first on the child welfare concern that brought officers to the home. The initial response, they said, began as a check on the safety and attendance of the young girl.
Woman arrested after search warrant at the home in Yuma County
After the narcotics were seized, police arrested 28-year-old Noemy Figueroa. Booking records show she was booked into the Yuma County Jail following the search.
Figueroa faces felony charges of possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession and use of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment. Those charges reflect both the methamphetamine seizure and the concern that a child was present in the home.
Authorities have not said what led them to Figueroa specifically before the search, beyond the welfare check and the discovery of narcotics inside the house. Police also have not described whether anyone else was present when officers arrived.
Child welfare concerns led officers to the home before the drug discovery
The case began as a response to reports that a child was unsupervised and not going to school. Police said the 10-year-old girl was the reason officers went to the residence in the first place, not a narcotics investigation.
Once officers were inside, they said they noticed signs of illegal drugs and took the matter to detectives, who moved quickly to secure a search warrant. That step allowed investigators to search the home and seize the hidden baggies.
The police account suggests the child welfare issue and the drug case were closely connected. Officials have not said whether the girl was removed from the home or who is now caring for her.
San Luis police have not identified the child’s relationship to Figueroa
Several details remain unanswered. Police have not said whether Figueroa is the child’s parent, guardian, relative or another adult in the home. They also have not explained exactly how officers first found the concealed drugs inside the stuffed toy.
Officials likewise have not released information about the child’s current custody status or whether additional charges may follow. The case is still being handled as both a narcotics matter and a child safety matter.
The lack of detail leaves the public record limited to the facts police have confirmed so far: a welfare check, a hidden stash of methamphetamine, and an arrest tied to both drug possession and endangering a child.
Labubu knockoffs and the unusual concealment drew attention online
Part of what made the case stand out was the toy itself. Labubu dolls and similar collectible plush figures became widely recognized online in 2025, which made the hidden compartment inside the knockoff version especially striking in police photos.
Police evidence images showed the contrast clearly: a familiar-looking toy on one side and dozens of tiny baggies of suspected methamphetamine on the other. The packaging method appeared intended to disguise the contents and make the stash harder to spot.
San Luis police did not say whether the toy was purchased specifically to hide drugs or how long it had been kept in the home. For now, investigators have tied the evidence to the single arrest and the child welfare check that exposed it.
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