Police make eleventh arrest in student-deaths drugs case

Northumbria Police

POLICE have arrested an 11th person in connection with the suspected drug deaths of three Tyneside university students.

The three – two 18-year-olds from Newcastle University and a 21-year-old Northumbria University student – died over the weekend, along with an 18-year-old male from Washington, with drugs suspected to have contributed to all four deaths.

Ten arrests were made over the weekend, with three men aged between 18 and 21 released on police bail. Seven other people were arrested and released under investigation and yesterday officers confirmed another man, aged 30, had also been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He has since been released on police bail.

After the deaths, officers and student wellbeing teams have conducted high-profile patrols and visits at Newcastle University accommodation blocks, and searched “numerous” student flats.

Chief Inspector Steve Wykes encouraged any students possessing illegal drugs to contact their university wellbeing teams or visit their local police station, to dispose of them safely.

He said: “If you are in possession of illegal drugs, we would encourage you to dispose of them safely and not run the risk of causing yourself any harm by taking them.

“We also don’t want anyone else being put at risk if they are not disposed of responsibly, for example if they are left somewhere where they could be picked up.”

This mechanism for disposing of drugs will be taken on a case-by-case basis.

Anyone with information about the drugs involved in the case is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101, quoting references 181 03/10/20 660 03/10/20 222/227 04/10/20, 483 04/10/20 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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