Two arrested and nearly 40 reported ill due to 'lethal highs'

Northumbria Police have arrested two men in relation to the supply of 'lethal highs' after nearly 40 reports of people falling unwell in two days.

The force received 12 reports in just three-and-a-half hours of people falling unwell on Sunday 4th June, after taking what is believed to be either 'Spice' or 'Power'.

In total 17 reports were received throughout the day.

Five people were taken to hospital as a precaution but were all released a short time later.

An investigation was launched into who had supplied the drugs and a warning was issued to the public on Sunday about the dangers posed by 'lethal highs' or NPS.

However, since the weekend there has been a further 20 reports of people falling unwell. Only one person was taken to hospital as a precaution before he was later discharged.

An investigation is being led by a team of detectives with the support of the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team and two people have been arrested in connection with the supply of the substances.

A 19-year-old men has been released under investigation but officers have charged a 29-year-old man for possession of a controlled class B drug with intent to supply.

Superintendent Paul Knox, of Central Area Command, said:

Cllr Nick Kemp, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services, said:

The substances in question were formerly known as a 'legal highs' but new legislation was introduced in December to criminalise the drugs. They are now referred to as either New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) or 'lethal highs'.

In 2016, Northumbria Police set up a dedicated task force in Newcastle to crack down on the use of NPS in the city and over the past 18 months they have been working with Newcastle city council, North East Ambulance Service and Public Health.

That work has seen them seize hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of the drug and, when the drugs were still legal, saw a number of shops that stocked the dangerous substances shut down.

Investigations into the supply of lethal highs and other illegal substances across the force area are ongoing and anyone with any information on lethal highs can get in touch with police on 101.