Two smoke shop employees face federal charges after police uncovered over 500 units of synthetic kratom, following the deaths of two students at the University of Mississippi and a mysterious third overdose in the area.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found dead on September 21 after police received separate reports that they were unresponsive and possibly overdosing.
Investigators later found pills at the crime scenes believed to be either kratom or synthetic kratom.
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Department announced on Thursday that two smoke shop employees, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, are now facing federal charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
The employees worked at Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford, just outside the university.
The business was searched following reports of an alleged sale of illegal substances, and police located the kratom, THC cartridges and other suspected narcotics, according to Oxford Police.
‘Today’s federal court proceedings represent another step in an investigation that remains active and ongoing. Law enforcement has not stopped working this case,’ the narcotics department said.
‘Investigators continue to review evidence and pursue additional information, and additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation develops.’
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, faces federal charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute
Islam Mohamed, 18, also faces federal charges after officers recovered more than 500 units of synthetic kratom at the smoke shop he worked at in Mississippi
Officials said that kratom, pictured here, was found during both investigations into the deaths at Ole Miss
Hamilton, a freshman from Colorado, was found inside Stewart Hall on campus. Emergency responders attempted CPR but were unable to save him.
Strang, a junior from Georgia, was discovered at an off-campus house on Van Buren Avenue.
A criminal affidavit obtained by ABC News revealed that Hamilton’s bank records showed multiple purchases at Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer, including on the day of his death.
The shop’s business owner, Amer Alowdi, 40, was previously indicted for trafficking drugs and has since left the country, according to Oxford Police.
An informant working for the police went undercover three days after the students were found dead and reported purchasing ‘kratom-based pills’ at the shop.
‘The clerk told the informant to be careful taking the pills, because people were dying from them,’ the affidavit read.
That same day, narcotics officers searched the store and seized alleged kratom products worth $1,799, according to the document.
The affidavit noted that forensic testing confirmed that some of the pills contained kratom.
Investigators also found that Strang allegedly purchased pills containing kratom at a nearby gas station called Express Mart #7.
The affidavit noted that the purchases occurred on September 9 and 11. Officers purchased similar pills and have sent them to a forensics lab for analysis. There have been no arrests of employees at the Express Mart.
Toxicology reports on the two students are ongoing. An official cause or manner of death has yet to be released.
Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer Store owner Amer Alowdi was previously indicted for trafficking drugs and has since left the country
Robert Strang, a 20-year-old from Atlanta, is the older of the two victims
Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado, was the second student to be found dead. Picture source: Kathie Mac Donald Hamilton/Facebook
Also on Thursday, Oxford Police announced another suspected overdose of a 22-year-old on Sweetgum Lane, which is about five miles from the university.
The individual was not a student, and police do not believe the incident is related to the university.
Authorities responded around 5am and found the individual unresponsive. Emergency responders revived him on the scene and rushed him to the hospital. Police said he is expected to survive.
Officers learned that the individual also possessed synthetic kratom products, although they were not believed to have been purchased in Oxford.
‘The Oxford Police Department is once again warning the public about the serious and potentially deadly dangers associated with synthetic kratom products,’ police said.
‘Synthetic and manufactured kratom products can contain powerful and unpredictable substances.’
The department added that the recent incident is not connected to the ongoing investigation into the two students’ deaths.
Kratom is derived from a Southeast Asian tree and can produce stimulant-like effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. It is sometimes marketed for energy, pain relief or managing opioid withdrawal.
Robert Strang is seen here in a post made by the Ole Miss Phi Delt Alumni showcasing their Rush Chairs for 2026. Picture source: Ole Miss Phi Delt Alumni/Facebook
The Lyceum, oldest building on the campus of the University of Mississippi on April 12, 2008 in Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi Mayor Robyn Tannehill warned that taking kratom is like ‘rolling the dice on death’ as the community reels from the deaths of two Ole Miss students
‘To take kratom is really rolling the dice on death,’ Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill told Fox News after the campus tragedy.
‘That sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth. And so our challenge right now is to make our young people understand the dangers of these drugs.’
Tannehill said Oxford officials had been concerned about kratom for years and moved to restrict its sale locally in 2019 after the city’s police chief raised the alarm.
The mayor said authorities were continuing to hunt for people willing to illegally supply potentially dangerous substances to young people.
‘We are always trying to find the bad actors in our community that are choosing to sell these things to kids,’ she said.
The mayor added that the loss of the two students deeply impacted the community, and her heart broke for their loved ones.
