Latest news with #MDMB-4en-PINACA
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
No ‘magic mushroom' vapes
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no 'magic mushroom' in vape liquids despite claims on social media, says Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. The newly appointed Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director said lab tests conducted by the Chemistry Department on seized vape liquids allegedly containing hallucinogenic mushrooms showed no presence of the substance. It revealed the presence of illegal substances, particularly synthetic cannabinoids, such as MDMB-4en-PINACA and its analogues. 'This modus operandi shows that psychoactive substances are being infused into vape liquids as a delivery method for drugs. 'Other seized liquids also contained stimulant drugs like methamphetamine and MDMA, reflecting new forms of abuse through electronic devices,' he said in a statement yesterday. He said claims of dried mushrooms or hallucinogenic natural drops being used in vape products were inaccurate and likely part of a manipulation tactic by the drug distributors. 'Distributors are deliberately branding synthetic substances as 'magic mushrooms' to attract young users, especially school students,' Comm Hussein said. Although cases involving students remain isolated, he said the trend is causing concern due to its potential impact on youth. 'To date, no official evidence has been found of dried mushrooms or drugs being mixed into chocolates or candies as widely alleged,' he added. Comm Hussein said the NCID has launched a nationwide intelligence operation to investigate the growing abuse of vapes laced with illicit substances among teenagers. 'From 2024 to March 2025, we recorded 64 cases of vape liquid seizures. 'In the first three months of this year, we have already recorded 32 cases, indicating a significant rise in monthly averages,' Comm Hussein said. He also stressed that the misuse of vape devices as a medium for drug delivery is a growing reality that needs urgent intervention. 'We urge the public to rely on verified information from official sources such as the police, the National Anti-Drugs Agency or the Health Ministry, and to avoid spreading unverified viral content that could cause unnecessary panic. 'There is a clear need to include education on the dangers of synthetic drug-laced vapes in school syllabi and to intensify awareness campaigns, especially among students. 'Parents should closely monitor their children's activities and belongings, and have open discussions about the risks of vaping and drug use.' He also backed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay's recent call to ban the sale of vape products at the state level as part of broader efforts to curb drug abuse. He noted that the government is currently refining regulatory mechanisms for vape products, with the Health Ministry and enforcement agencies considering a stricter licensing framework. 'This includes laboratory testing of vape liquids and tighter controls on sales to minors. 'The police are also intensifying surveillance of online vape sales involving illicit substances. 'Enforcement efforts now go beyond physical checks – we are monitoring the digital space as well. 'If anyone has information regarding drug abuse or distribution, we urge them to contact the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222,' he added.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
No 'magic mushrooms' in vape liquids, confirms NCID director
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no such thing as "magic mushroom" in vape liquids, despite claims circulating on social media, says Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. The newly appointed Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director stated that lab tests conducted by the Chemistry Department on seized vape liquids allegedly containing hallucinogenic mushrooms showed no presence of such substances. "There is no such drug as 'magic mushroom' in vape liquids. This has been confirmed by the Chemistry Department after analysing the seized materials," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 24). He clarified that claims of dried mushrooms or hallucinogenic natural drops being used in vape products were inaccurate and likely part of a manipulation tactic by drug distributors. "Distributors are deliberately branding synthetic substances as 'magic mushrooms' to attract young users, especially school students," he said. Although cases involving students remain isolated, Comm Hussein said the trend is causing serious concern due to its potential impact on youth. "To date, no official evidence has been found of dried mushrooms or drugs being mixed into chocolates or candies as widely alleged," he added. Comm Hussein said the NCID has launched a nationwide intelligence operation to investigate the growing abuse of vapes laced with illicit substances among teenagers. "From 2024 to March 2025, we recorded 64 cases of vape liquid seizures. In just the first three months of this year, we have already recorded 32 cases, indicating a significant rise in monthly averages," he said. Lab analyses of the seized liquids revealed the presence of illegal substances, particularly synthetic cannabinoids like MDMB-4en-PINACA and its analogues. "This modus operandi shows that psychoactive substances are being infused into vape liquids as a delivery method for drugs. "Other seized liquids also contained stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA, reflecting new forms of abuse through electronic devices," he said. Comm Hussein stressed that the misuse of vape devices as a medium for drug delivery is a growing reality that needs urgent intervention. "We urge the public to rely on verified information from official sources such as the police, the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), or the Health Ministry, and to avoid spreading unverified viral content that could cause unnecessary panic. "There is a clear need to include education on the dangers of synthetic drug-laced vapes in school syllabi and to intensify awareness campaigns, especially among students," he said. "Parents should closely monitor their children's activities and belongings, and have open discussions about the risks of vaping and drug use," he said. He also backed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay's recent call to ban the sale of vape products at the state level as part of broader efforts to curb drug abuse through such devices. He noted that the government is currently refining regulatory mechanisms for vape products, with the Health Ministry and enforcement agencies considering a stricter licensing framework. "This includes laboratory testing of vape liquids and tighter controls on sales to minors. "The police are also intensifying surveillance of online vape sales involving illicit substances. "If anyone has information regarding drug abuse or distribution, we urge them to contact the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222," he added.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
Police refute mushroom vape claims, warn of drug rise in e-cigarettes
KUALA LUMPUR: The police have dismissed claims that hallucinogenic mushrooms are being used in vape products but raised concerns over a rise in the use of synthetic drugs in e-cigarettes, including among school students. Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said there was no such thing as "magic mushroom vape" in the form of dried fungi or natural hallucinogens, as alleged on social media. "Laboratory tests conducted by the Chemistry Department on samples seized by the NCID did not detect any natural mushroom substances. "What's actually being sold are synthetic drugs deceptively marketed as 'magic mushroom' vapes," he said in a statement today. He said while the term 'magic mushroom' was being used widely, it was in fact a manipulative label used by drug syndicates to promote synthetic substances. "There is no official evidence of dried mushrooms or narcotic-laced chocolates and candies being sold, as speculated. "What we have detected is the presence of synthetic cannabis and other psychotropic substances in vape liquids," he said in a statement today. Between January and March this year, Hussein said police recorded 32 cases involving vape liquids containing drugs, compared to 64 cases throughout 2024 – indicating a sharp monthly increase. "The most common substance detected was synthetic cannabis, such as MDMB-4en-PINACA and its analogues, which shows a rising trend of mixing psychoactive chemicals into vape liquids," he said. He added that there were also cases involving stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA, which he described as alarming due to the increasing misuse of electronic delivery devices. "The majority of samples tested confirmed the presence of illegal drugs. This proves that the use of vape as a medium to deliver drugs is real and must be addressed seriously." Hussein said the NCID has intensified intelligence gathering and enforcement across the country in response to reports of students allegedly using drug-laced vape products. He reminded the public to rely on verified information from police, the National Anti-Drugs Agency, or health authorities, and to avoid spreading unverified news that could cause unnecessary panic. "There is also a need to incorporate education about the dangers of synthetic vape into the school syllabus and carry out continuous awareness campaigns, especially among students," he said. He urged parents to monitor their children's activities and belongings and engage in open discussions about the risks of vaping and drug use. Hussein also voiced support for Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay's recent call for state governments to ban the sale of vape products as a preventive measure. "The government is currently refining its regulatory framework on vape, particularly in terms of content and distribution. The Health Ministry, together with enforcement agencies, is working on a stricter licensing system, including mandatory lab testing of vape liquids," he said. He said police are also monitoring online sales of drug-laced vape products, adding that enforcement efforts now cover both physical and digital spaces. The public with information related to drug abuse or distribution are urged to contact the NCID via its hotline at 012-208 7222.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cause of first NYC jail death in 2025 revealed as drug overdose
The first person to die in a city jail in 2025 was killed by an overdose of synthetic marijuana, or 'K2,' once again highlighting the ease with which contraband enters the jails, the Daily News has learned. Ramel Powell, 38, died Feb. 19 at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center of 'acute MDMB-4en-PINACA intoxication,' the city's Medical Examiner office reported Tuesday, using the technical language for synthetic weed. The office classified his death as accidental. Powell's was the first of six in-custody deaths so far in 2025 either in a jail, a court holding pen or a hospital unit after the person fell into medical distress in the jails. 'The Department of Investigation has issued multiple reports outlining what our members know — the primary source of drugs on Rikers is not mail or visitors, but the one source DOC refuses to address — their own staff,' said Sarita Daftary, co-director of the Freedom Agenda, an advocacy group. The ME's office also disclosed that Soso Ramashvili, 32, who died March 21 in Kings County Criminal Court, suffered a severe inflammation in the abdomen from a perforated ulcer — officially, 'acute peritonitis due to perforated duodenal ulcer due to peptic ulcer disease.' Ramashvili had been arrested on a shoplifting charge. He was also accused of possession of a small amount of cocaine. He was held for three days prior to arraignment, apparently shuttling between police facilities and the hospital. Advocates called for an investigation back in March. 'Soso Ramashvili was detained and processed on a charge that should have resulted in an appearance ticket. Instead, he was effectively condemned to a death sentence — repeatedly denied the medical care he urgently needed,' said Meghna Philip, director of the Special Litigation Unit in the criminal defense practice at the Legal Aid Society. 'The NYPD clearly violated the law by processing and holding him in custody far beyond what was legally permitted. The callous disregard law enforcement continues to show for the lives and rights of New Yorkers is deeply disturbing.' The NYPD did not immediately reply to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. Powell was arrested for a May 8, 2023 slashing on the Lower East Side and sent to Rikers that July. After his death, The News reported a reason for his extended detention was that he had changed lawyers four times. He has also spent time in an upstate psychiatric facility after a judge ruled he was not mentally fit to stand trial. The Correction Department declined to comment on Powell's cause of death, citing an ongoing investigation. But the agency has recently renewed a push to tighten security around mail citing a smuggling tactic where pages of letters or books are soaked with narcotics. In 2023, a previous effort which would have led to the electronic scanning of all detainee mail was blocked by the Board of Correction, when a majority of members declined to put the measure up for a vote. The new proposal would allow the Correction Department to open and search non-legal mail outside of the view of detainees. Latima Johnson, a DOC spokeswoman, said the agency is continuing to urge the Board of Correction for approval of the new mail measure. 'Synthetic narcotics present a challenge to correctional institutions across the country,' she said. 'These substances do not have stable chemical compositions nor any scent so K9 [drug sniffing dogs] cannot detect them. These substances are also extremely dangerous to the people who live and work in our jails.' The causes of death in the other four cases remain pending. Those include Terence Moore, who suffered a fatal seizure Feb. 24 in Manhattan Criminal Court, Sonia Reyes, who died March 20 at the West Facility on Rikers Island, and Ibrahim Diallo who died March 26 at Manhattan Criminal Court. The ME's office also has yet to issue a cause of death in the case of Ariel Quidone, 20, who died March 15 at Elmhurst Hospital after just eight days in jail on Rikers, where he fell into medical distress. His family has said he suffered a burst appendix and has alleged it was not properly treated.
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tragedy at Parc: How prison failings led to the death of a 25-year-old inmate
'Alarming' drug access, breached protocols, and a system in crisis THE DEATH of a young prisoner at HMP Parc has laid bare a catalogue of failings inside Wales' largest private jail, with damning reports from the prisons watchdog and inspectors exposing shocking levels of drug availability, neglected mental health needs, and breached safety procedures. Lewis Rhys Thomas Petryszyn, 25, from Pontardawe, was found dead in his cell on the afternoon of April 15, 2022. His death, confirmed by a coroner last month to be the result of inhaling a 'bad batch' of the synthetic drug spice, followed what the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has called a series of missed opportunities and breaches of protocol by staff at the troubled Bridgend facility, which is operated by security giant G4S. An inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court concluded that Mr Petryszyn died from drug inhalation after ingesting spice, an illegal psychoactive substance known to cause hallucinations, erratic behaviour, and in some cases, death. A dangerous pattern Mr Petryszyn was jailed in 2021 for trafficking Class A drugs and intentionally wounding a man outside Swansea's Fiction nightclub. He was moved to HMP Parc shortly after sentencing. Inside the jail, staff soon suspected he was involved in distributing psychoactive substances (PS). In April 2022, officers found a 'debt list' in his cell and intelligence suggesting he was bullying and assaulting vulnerable prisoners over drug-related debts. However, despite this, prison staff failed to properly apply the Challenge Support Intervention Plan (CSIP) – a national protocol designed to manage violent or high-risk prisoners. On April 13, just two days before his death, Mr Petryszyn was moved to a different unit due to concerns he posed a threat to others, yet again, no formal CSIP plan was created. Breach of protocol – a lost chance to save him? At 1:40pm on April 15, a prison officer delivered disciplinary hearing paperwork to Mr Petryszyn's cell. Instead of following local policy and handing it to him in person, the officer simply slid the document under the door. He looked through the observation panel and assumed both Mr Petryszyn and his cellmate were asleep. Forty-five minutes later, a different officer arrived to deliver a prison shop order and found Mr Petryszyn slumped on the floor, unresponsive, while his cellmate sat on the bed 'staring into space'. A post-mortem later confirmed the presence of two psychoactive substances—ADB-BUTINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA—as well as olanzapine, a powerful antipsychotic that he had not been prescribed, and mirtazapine, one of two antidepressants he had been given inappropriately. The ombudsman said the officer's failure to check on him directly may have robbed staff of a chance to save his life, writing: 'This meant that staff missed a possible opportunity to provide emergency medical care to Mr Petryszyn sooner.' Drug strategy outdated, inspections damning The report also found that Parc's drug strategy was out of date, despite widespread evidence that prisoners were able to easily obtain both illicit substances and diverted prescription medication. One day before his death, staff smelled spice coming from Mr Petryszyn's new cell—eight days after the last known batch was confiscated. This, the ombudsman said, was clear evidence that the flow of drugs in the prison was virtually unchecked. A separate unannounced inspection of HMP Parc earlier this year found drugs were discovered on over 900 occasions in 2024 alone, and revealed that cell windows could be opened from the inside, enabling prisoners to receive drugs via drones. Seventeen inmates died at HMP Parc in 2024. According to G4S, at least five deaths were drug-related. Inspectors warned of 'a spate of tragic deaths', linking the failures directly to G4S being awarded a fresh 10-year contract to run the prison, despite a significant decline in safety standards since 2022. Mental health failings Mr Petryszyn, who disclosed childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms to a prison GP in October 2021, was prescribed fluoxetine, later paired with mirtazapine. The ombudsman criticised this combination, noting that only a specialist doctor should have prescribed two antidepressants of that class concurrently. Worse still, when Mr Petryszyn was seen by mental health staff again in February 2022, they failed to consider the PTSD diagnosis noted earlier. This failure, alongside inappropriate prescribing by a non-clinical pharmacist, highlighted serious gaps in Parc's mental health provision. Official response In a formal action plan, HMP Parc has now accepted all recommendations made by the ombudsman. G4S claims it has updated its drug reduction strategy, issued new training for staff on medication supervision and CSIP procedures, and reinforced policies on in-person delivery of official documents. But critics say these reforms come too late. Twelve inmates died at Parc in the two years leading up to Mr Petryszyn's death—with further deaths since—and the pattern of staff misconduct, drug access, and medical negligence appears to continue. A system under pressure Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Kimberley Bingham said: 'While we are satisfied that prison staff submitted intelligence reports and acted on them by conducting searches and drug tests, we remain seriously concerned about the availability of psychoactive substances at Parc.' She added that both prescribed and illicit drugs must be tackled, and that failure to deliver paperwork correctly may have cost Mr Petryszyn his life. With the coroner's conclusion now delivered and yet another critical inspection on the record, the question remains: how many more lives will be lost before systemic change is delivered at HMP Parc?
