There has been another development in the deaths of two Ole Miss students, Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, who were found dead in separate locations in Oxford, Mississippi, on September 21.
On Thursday, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit searched Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store after investigators say they made a controlled purchase of illegal substances there. They seized more than 500 units of kratom, along with THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected narcotics. Kratom has been illegal to possess, sell or distribute in Oxford since 2019.
Two Oxford men, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested and charged with possession of Schedule I controlled substances with intent to distribute. Police also say the owner of the business, Amer Alowdi, 40, had been indicted on narcotics trafficking charges back in 2022 but left the country before he could be prosecuted.
What makes this especially concerning is that packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found during the investigations into both students' deaths. But I want to be careful here because investigators have NOT said kratom caused either death, and they have not said these arrests are directly connected to the deaths. Toxicology results are still pending.
This investigation isn't over either. Police say they expect there could be more arrests and charges as they continue looking into the illegal sale of these products around Oxford.
Two young men are dead, their families are waiting for answers, and hopefully the toxicology results will tell investigators exactly what happened.
Am I the only one questioning the motives behind these men? Does this sound like good old boys from Mississippi run this store?