OXFORD, Miss. — Court proceedings have revealed new details about the deaths of two University of Mississippi students, including the substances found in their systems and the investigation into kratom-like pills sold at local smoke shops.
During a court hearing Friday, an attorney for one of the two men charged with selling narcotics said one student died from the combined use of multiple substances, including cough syrup. The other died from inhalation asphyxiation, according to Action News 5.
As Emily’s Hope previously reported, packaged Kratom sold from a retail store was found during both death investigations.
According to court records, toxicology results found mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and 7-OH in both students’ systems. The New York Post reports that these are all compounds found in the deadly SMAX Pseudo-DHM pills, a synthetic drug marketed as a kratom-like substance, that were found at the scene of both students’ deaths.
This comes as the US Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed emergency restrictions placing 7-OH, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16 products under the strictest category of federal drug control, if they exceed certain concentrations.
Investigators believe Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer in Oxford sold one of the students the pills twice in the days before his death. Court documents also state that the other victim made a purchase from the store, but investigators said he also bought the dangerous drug from another nearby smoke shop.
Following the deaths, Lafayette County Metro Narcotics agents sent a confidential informant into Puffs to investigate suspected illegal drug sales.
Yahya Mosleh, 51, and his son, Islam Mosleh, 18, were working at the store when an undercover agent visited on Sept. 24 and asked for 7-OH kratom pills, according to court documents.
Yahya, who was behind the counter, allegedly unlocked a drawer beneath the register and showed the informant a selection of products containing mitragynine pseudoindoxyl. He also warned the informant, “Be careful taking the pills, because people are dying from them,” according to the complaint.
Oxford police later executed a search warrant at the store and said officers seized about 500 units of kratom and kratom-like products. Investigators also recovered THC cartridges, gummies, pre-rolls and other suspected THC products.
During the search, detectives say they found SMAX Mango Breeze MGM-15 products with packaging and ingredients matching those found near one of the students.
A judge ruled that Yahya Mosleh would remain in custody, citing concerns that he could flee. Islam Mosleh was granted a $20,000 bond with conditions.
The store’s owner, Amer Alowdi, was indicted on alleged narcotics trafficking charges in 2022. According to court testimony reported by Action News 5, authorities believe he fled the United States and is in Egypt.
The cases come amid growing federal scrutiny of concentrated and synthetic kratom-related substances. On July 1, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced it intended to temporarily place 7-OH and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The substances include mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15.
The DEA’s announcement distinguishes these concentrated or synthetic substances from natural kratom leaf, which contains only trace amounts of 7-OH.
