Two arrested in kratom raid at Oxford smoke shop after two student deaths

Oxford police arrested two men at a vape and tobacco store on Heritage Drive following an undercover narcotics operation. The bust comes days after two Ole Miss students died with kratom found at both scenes.

Kratom raid at Oxford smoke shop leads to two arrests, more expected

Oxford Police Department arrested two men on Thursday after executing a search warrant at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store on Heritage Drive in Oxford, Mississippi, actionnews5.com reports.

The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit said it had successfully purchased illegal substances from the business prior to the warrant being granted. Agents recovered more than 500 units of kratom, along with THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected narcotics.

Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were charged with possession of schedule I controlled substances with intent to distribute. Kratom is illegal within Oxford city limits.

Police also identified the store's owner, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, who was indicted for narcotics trafficking in 2022 but fled the county before he could be prosecuted.

Nolan Brooks, an Ole Miss graduate student who works in an adjacent business, described the operation. "I think there were like four to five cars. One went all the way over to the back. They all came inside and they were in there for hours. They closed down the whole place and everything," Brooks said. He added: "I don't know why they haven't like cracked down on that sooner, but you know, at least they're cracking down on it now."

Oxford Police Department made clear the investigation is far from over. "This investigation does not end with these arrests," OPD said in a statement. "These individuals and this business are not necessarily the only people involved in the illegal distribution of these products, and they should not expect to be the last arrests made as our enforcement efforts continue."

The raid came just days after two Ole Miss students died, with packaged kratom found at the scene of both death investigations. Investigators have not confirmed a cause of death for either student — identified as 18-year-old Aidan Hamilton and 20-year-old Robert Strang.

Brooks, who did not know the two students personally, said the deaths affected the wider campus community. "They're way younger than me. I didn't have any relationship with them but it's still sad. You know, they're students here so, it's just, they're Rebels. So, it's pretty sad," he said.

OPD has indicated that further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)