Two employees at a smoke shop near the University of Mississippi have been arrested on drug charges, days after two students died in suspected kratom overdoses.
Police raided the store, located about one mile from campus and near the areas where Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, died earlier this week.
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested and booked on charges of possessing Schedule 1 drugs with the intent to distribute.
According to a statement from Oxford Police, officers recovered more than 500 units of kratom, as well as THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected drugs.
Police also noted that the store’s owner, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, had previously been indicted on drug-trafficking charges and has since left the country.
“This remains an active investigation. Additional information will be released when appropriate,” police said. Authorities have not linked the arrests to the students’ deaths.
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh is pictured
Islam Mohamed is pictured
Ole Miss Students Found Dead Identified
Friends who spoke with The Daily Mississippian identified the students. Hamilton was a freshman from Colorado, while Strang was a junior from Georgia.
The outlet reported that law enforcement officers responded to Stewart Hall, where they attempted to perform CPR on Hamilton.
Strang was later found dead at an off-campus house on Van Buren Avenue, sources told the outlet.
Last month, Aidan’s mother, Kathie, shared photos of him inside his dorm and outside the school on Facebook.
She wrote that she and her husband, Peter, were “empty nesters,” adding: “We are officially empty nesters – this is going to take some getting used to!!!!”
In a statement to Fox News, Scott Sayres, an attorney for Strang’s family, said: “We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss.”
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“We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of love, prayers and support by so many beloved friends and family. Their kindness has meant more to our family than we can ever express.”
Strang’s family said they were “heartbroken by the loss of our dear son” and were trying to process the “unimaginable loss”
Officers attempted CPR on Aidan Hamilton, pictured inside his dorm, after he was found in Stewart Hall
Vice Chancellor Announces Student Deaths
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Shawnboda Mead announced the students’ deaths on Tuesday.
Soon after the news emerged, Mead pushed back against social media rumors claiming that additional students might be unaccounted for.
“We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information that has not been officially confirmed,” she said.
But, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit shared a social media post stating that ‘packaged kratom’ was located during both death investigations.
Kratom, an unregulated herbal extract, acts as a mild stimulant that people use for energy, pain relief, and managing withdrawal. It acts as an opioid in large doses.
The substance was sold from an unnamed retail store, police said. It is unclear if kratom or other substances played a role in their deaths, the agency said.
Authorities Issue Warning Over Kratom
Authorities have warned people to refrain from ingesting kratom or other substances that have not been prescribed by a medical professional.
‘Local, state, and federal partners are working collaboratively to gather the facts and provide answers as quickly and responsibly as possible,’ the agency said.
‘We are also working closely with the families involved and ask that their privacy be respected during an incredibly difficult time.’
Police also reminded the community that Narcan, an over-the-counter medication that reverses an opioid overdose, is available in vending machines across campus.
The university echoed the police, stating that their thoughts are with the friends, family, and loved ones of the two students.