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Father and son smoke shop workers arrested in Mississippi students' suspected kratom deaths
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- A father and son, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and Islam Yahya Mosleh, were arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances after two University of Mississippi students died from suspected kratom overdoses.
- The pair worked at a Mississippi smoke shop accused of selling kratom derivatives to university students, which are believed to have caused the deaths on 21 September.
- Kratom, a plant with opioid-like effects, has gained popularity in the US but is unregulated by the FDA and legal in some states, including Mississippi, despite concerns over its safety.
- The kratom derivatives involved, such as MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16, are now classified as Schedule I controlled substances due to their potency, which can exceed that of natural kratom and morphine.
- The deaths have raised alarms among officials, highlighting the dangers of kratom and prompting calls for increased regulation and awareness of its risks.
