Two men were arrested after authorities seized more than 500 units of kratom and other suspected narcotics from an Oxford, Mississippi, tobacco shop, days after two University of Mississippi students were found dead with packaged kratom at both scenes.
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested Thursday after Lafayette County Metro Narcotics agents raided Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store on Heritage Drive, according to Oxford police. Authorities said they also seized THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected narcotics.
The arrests come as investigators continue to investigate how Ole Miss students Robert Strang, 20, and Aidan Hamilton, 18, died. Strang, a junior from Atlanta, and Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado,
were found dead Sept. 21 in separate locations. Hamilton was found at Stewart Hall, a campus residence hall, while Strang was found at an off-campus home.
Authorities have not said the students died of kratom use or any other drug. Packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found during both death investigations, but officials have said they have no confirmed evidence that kratom or another substance contributed to either death.
Two arrested after Oxford raid
Mosleh and Mohamed were charged with possession of Schedule I controlled substances with intent to distribute, police said.
The possession, distribution and sale of kratom have been prohibited in Oxford since 2019, police said.
The owner of Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, was indicted on narcotics trafficking charges in 2022, authorities said. He fled the country before he could be prosecuted, and officials said additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
It was not immediately clear whether the arrests or the drugs seized at the store are connected to the deaths of Strang and Hamilton.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told Fox News Digital that authorities do not know whether the cases are connected.
Toxicology reports expected soon
Investigators are awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports that could help determine what caused the students' deaths.
Sean Tindell, Mississippi's commissioner of public safety, told Fox News that the reports could be completed as early as next week. Gov. Tate Reeves has pledged state resources to help expedite the testing.
Tindell said authorities have not ruled out foul play, but a final determination about the deaths will not be made until investigators have reviewed autopsy results, toxicology reports, statements and other evidence.
If testing finds fentanyl, Mississippi's Parker's Law could allow prosecutors to pursue charges against someone who unlawfully delivered the drug if it resulted in a person's death, Tindell said.
What is kratom?
Kratom is an herbal substance made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says it can produce stimulant-like effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for medical use.
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill has warned residents about the potential dangers of kratom and other substances as authorities investigate the student deaths.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kratom seized, 2 arrested in Oxford, Miss., days after students' deaths
