Deaths Linked To "Dangerous Batch Of Drugs"

2 January 2015, 10:25

Suffolk Police believe the deaths of three men could be linked to a dangerous batch of drugs.

Officers were called to reports that a man, believed to be in his 20s, was found seriously unwell in Chestnut Close in Rendlesham at 7.10am on Thursday.

He received treatment at the scene but was pronounced dead.

At 9.40am two men were reported as unwell at Provan Court in Ipswich.

One man, believed to be in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Police are investigating the deaths and believe they could have been a result of taking ecstasy.

Detectives believe their cases may be linked to another drugs-related death on Christmas Eve - that of a man in his 20s in Bramford Lane, Ipswich.

The pills involved are believed to be red and triangular, and embossed with an ``S'' Superman emblem.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said this is the first time they have come across pills matching this description.

The force has drawn a link between these drugs and dangerous pills with a similar appearance which were in circulation in the Netherlands last month.

Those tablets had a large concentration of PMMA, which acts more slowly than MDMA, the main component of ecstasy. This causes people to take more pills because they think they are not working.

PMMA can cause high body temperature and an increased heart rate.

Chief Inspector Steve Denham said: "As well as it being illegal to sell and buy drugs, it can also be very dangerous as we have sadly seen with these tragic deaths.

"We would urge everyone not to be tempted to take illegal drugs - you don't know where they have come from, what they are made up of, or how your body will react to them.

"If you have been offered drugs in the Ipswich area over the past few weeks, in particular ecstasy, we'd urge you to contact us with any information so that we can find those responsible and remove these dangerous drugs from the streets.''

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.