Narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss deaths urges Mississippi lawmakers to act on state’s controlled substance laws

Narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss.

Key points

• During Cork's tenure, MDA has recruited over $34 billion in investments to the Magnolia State along with the creation of almost 23, 000 jobs.
• The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit is reminding the public that the investigation into the deaths of two Ole Miss students is still underway.
• The Legislature did pass HB 1077 in 2025.
• Senate Scott Colom of Mississippi and Angie Nixon of Florida shared the love Tuesday on X.
• As such, the unit is calling for the Mississippi Legislature to take action on the substances known as Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16.

Narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss deaths urges Mississippi lawmakers to act on state's controlled substance laws. By: Jeremy Pittari – September 30, 2026. (Photo from Lafayette County Sheriff's Facebook page).

In practice, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit is calling for immediate legislative hearings to address synthetic kratom-related products. "We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy before addressing the dangers these substances pose to Mississippians."

Notably, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit is reminding the public that the investigation into the deaths of two Ole Miss students is still underway.

Last week, the two students were discovered deceased in separate locations in Oxford. The students were an 18-year-old male from Colorado and a 20-year-old male from Georgia.

Kratom products were discovered at the scene of both deaths. It has sparked speculation into whether the substance could have played a role in their demise.

Investigators were alerted shortly after the discovery of the students that illegal substances were being sold out of a convenience store known as the Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store. An investigation into the tip resulted in the discovery of 500 units of substances that contain "kratom-related" substances, THC vape cartridges and other substances. Two employees of the business were subsequently arrested – 51-year-old Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and 18-year-old Islam Mohamed – for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The suspects are now being held on a $100, 000 bond. In practice, the owner of the store, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, left the country after he was indicted back in 2022 for trafficking.

In practice, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit updated the public on its investigation Wednesday, noting that their warning over kratom "was not a declaration that kratom or any specific substance caused either death."

"From the earliest stages of these two separate death investigations, investigators recognized the possibility that illegal or dangerous substances may have been involved, " the unit stated. "During the investigations, packaging associated with kratom-related products was discovered at both locations. This information prompted law enforcement to matter a public safety warning out of an abundance of caution. That warning was not a declaration that kratom or any specific substance caused either death."

Notably, the unit remarked the investigation is still underway to determine not only the cause of the deaths, but where the substances were procured.

"These investigations are far from over, " the agency explained. "We are awaiting official autopsy and toxicology findings from the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office and associated forensic testing to support determine the cause and manner of each death. Until those results are received and evaluated, we will not speculate regarding what substances, if any, contributed to these deaths."

Notably, the unit is additionally working to determine the chemical composition of the kratom-related substances and if the deaths are connected.

According to It was, on August 26, the federal administration has tentatively placed a number of synthetic opioid substances under the Schedule I designation under the Controlled Substances Act. As such, the unit is calling for the Mississippi Legislature to take action on the substances known as Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16. The unit remarked the time for waiting to address synthetic kratom-related products is over.

"We need immediate legislative hearings, a thorough examination of the state's controlled substances laws, and clear answers about how manufacturers, distributors and retailers can be held accountable when their actions put lives at risk, " urges the agency. "We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy before addressing the dangers these substances pose to Mississippians."

State Rep. Lee Yancey (R) has attempted to ban all kratom substances in previous sessions. He informed Magnolia Tribune earlier this week that it has been challenging due to Senate's opposition to taking up those bills, most probable due to a lack of federal action. Mississippi lawmaker calls for ban on kratom products.

Meanwhile, the Legislature did pass HB 1077 in 2025. It set age restrictions, banned the 7-OH synthetic form of Kratom, and mandated all natural kratom products be stored behind the counter.

According to Yancey, each time a manufacturer changes an element of synthetic controlled substances, the process to ban the items has to start from the beginning.

"Those would have to be specifically mentioned in the law to be banned, " Yancey explained. "Cause they can change one molecule and have as potent of a drug and it not meet the letter of the law and escape regulation. It's like playing whack a mole with all these drugs." Regarding the Author(s).

Jeremy Pittari is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Slidell, La., he moved to South Mississippi in the early 90s. Jeremy earned an associate in arts from Pearl River Community College and went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's of arts in journalism. A week after Hurricane Katrina, he began an internship as a reporter with the community newspaper in Pearl River County. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position at that news outlet where he covered the recovery process post Katrina in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. For almost 17 years he wrote concerning local administration, education, law enforcement, crime, business and a variety of other topics. Email Jeremy: [email protected].

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Taken together, the developments around narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss deaths urges Mississippi lawmakers to act on point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.