German police warning over ‘Blue Punisher’ ecstasy capsules after two youngsters die
G
erman police have issued a warning over a probably deadly “Blue Punisher” ecstasy tablet in circulation after the demise of two teenage ladies was linked to the drug.
Police within the northeastern state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania mentioned {that a} 13-year-old lady from the city of Altentreptow had died in hospital after taking one of many blue capsules.
The tablet encompasses a cranium brand related to the Marvel comedian e-book character The Punisher.
Two different youngsters, aged 14 and 15, had been additionally hospitalised after taking the drug, police mentioned. A 37-year-old German man has been detained in reference to the lady’s demise.
It comes as authorities within the neighboring state of Brandenburg proceed to analyze the demise of a 15-year-old lady who died within the city of Rathenow over the weekend after a suspected narcotics overdose.
Prosecutors say an post-mortem will decide whether or not she, too, died after consuming the drug.
“We warn against any consumption of narcotics, but especially the dangerous ‘Blue Punisher’ pill,” Neubrandenburg police mentioned in an announcement. “These pills have a very high dose of (the chemical) MDMA.”
It added that even half a tablet, which is in circulation within the area, might trigger life-threatening sickness.
A complete of 67 deaths had been recorded on account of MDMA in 2021 in England and Wales, in response to essentially the most lately launched figures from Statista. This was a drop on the determine of 82 the earlier 12 months.
Drugs charities have beforehand warned that “super-strength MDMA” capsules are more and more prevalent in Europe resulting from provide chain points. Pills have been recovered at UK festivals containing 250mg of MDMA – greater than thrice the common dose.
The Home Office confronted criticism final week from main pageant organisers for allegedly blocking on-site drug testing at music festivals, which seeks to cut back the hurt of taking ecstacy and different medicine.
Parklife pageant, in Manchester, mentioned it was unable to check confiscated capsules for the primary time since 2014 as a result of the Home Office claimed they wanted to use for a particular licence, the Guardian reported.
The medicine are examined in a cabin on web site, with “push notifications” despatched to festivalgoers if exams present they’re deemed a menace to well being.