In brief
A 51‑year‑old father and his 18‑year‑old son, who worked at a smoke shop in Mississippi, have been arrested for possession with intent to distribute Kratom derivatives linked to the suspected overdose deaths of two University of Mississippi students. The pair were charged after law enforcement discovered packages of counter‑feiting substances at their shop, with authorities connecting the poison to the students’ deaths on 21 September. Kratom, often sold over‑the‑counter and known as “gas station heroin,” is legal in some U.S. states but its synthetic derivatives are now schedule I controlled substances, according to prosecutors. Officials have warned about the drug’s potency, following the two tragic fatalities, and called for tighter oversight of vape and tobacco stores that may distribute it.
In a shock to Ole Miss students and the local community, a father and son duo who worked at a smoke shop in Mississippi have been arrested on charges of possessing and intending to distribute Kratom derivatives linked to the suspected overdoses of two university students earlier this month.
The 51‑year‑old Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and his 18‑year‑old son Islam Yahya Mosleh were charged with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances after authorities found packages of Kratom derivatives inside their store, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi said.
According to the complaint, a student was found dead in his dorm on 21 September, with the cause of death “consistent with a drug overdose.” An hour later, another student was discovered dead in a separate location, also linked to the same substance.
Kratom, a plant that produces opioid‑like effects, has surged in popularity in the United States but has not been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Mississippi prosecutors noted that clandestine derivatives such as MGPI, MGM‑15 and MGM‑16 are classified as schedule I controlled substances and can be considerably more potent than natural Kratom leaf products and morphine.
Officials have issued warnings about the dangers of “gas station heroin” after two students died in quick succession, spurring calls for tighter regulation and further scrutiny of vape, tobacco and beer stores that may distribute the substance.
