Two persons have been taken into custody on drug-related charges in Oxford , Mississippi, just a days after two University of Mississippi students tragically died in unrelated incidents.
Search Uncovers Substantial Drug Inventory Near Ole Miss Campus
Authorities recently conducted a search at a tobacco and vape shop near the Ole Miss campus, resulting in the seizure of over 500 kratom products, THC cartridges, gummies, and various other suspected controlled substances. The operation was carried out by the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit on Friday.
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, both residents of Oxford, have been charged with possession with the intention to distribute, according to reports from the NY Post. This incident raises concerns about the accessibility of controlled substances in proximity to educational institutions, highlighting ongoing public safety issues related to drug distribution in the area.
In a separate matter, Amer Alowdi, 40, who owns the shop, faced indictment charges for drug trafficking back in 2022. Strang, a resident of Atlanta, was fondly remembered as a devoted son and served as co-chairman of the 2026 Rush program for Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
However, according to police reports, he left the country before facing prosecution. Two students tragically lost their lives in unrelated incidents that occurred on Monday, and authorities discovered that “packaged Kratom sold from a retail store” was present at both locations, according to police reports. “Kratom has been prohibited from possession, distribution, and sale within the City of Oxford since 2019,” the narcotics division stated on Friday. Hamilton, a resident of Colorado, was described by his family as a “bright, wonderful young man who was taken too soon” and “is greatly missed. “Under Parker’s Law, enacted in 2022, criminal charges may be pursued when an unlawful delivery of fentanyl results in a person’s death,” Sean Tindell, the commissioner of Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety, stated to Fox News Digital. “If the investigation establishes those circumstances, law enforcement will work with prosecutors to pursue the appropriate charges and hold those responsible accountable.”
Officials haven’t yet established any link between the business and the two University of Mississippi students. Eighteen-year-old freshman Aidan Hamilton and twenty-year-old junior Robert Strang have been identified as the two students who died in the college incident. Strang’s body was located at a residence near campus, whereas Hamilton was found in his dormitory room. The precise circumstances surrounding the students’ deaths remain undetermined. However, narcotics investigators are actively engaged in examining both cases. If the findings suggest fentanyl involvement, authorities note that Mississippi has enacted specialized legislation enabling prosecution of the individual responsible for distributing the substance.
