Significant mephedrone seizure in Coleraine

Police in Coleraine seized a significant quantity of drugs, suspected to be mephedrone, following a search of a house in the town on Sunday, April 18

This newspaper has learnt that officers seized 47 bags of the substance wrapped up in small bags and concealed in yellow-coloured Kinder Surpise Egg containers.

A car was also seized for being driven with no insurance. Three males were arrested for drugs and road traffic offences and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Speaking to the Times, Det Inspector Sean Fitzpatrick warned young people of the dire consequences of taking or being caught with the substance.

"It is now a Class B drug and we would warn that anyone caught with it, regardless of the quantity, that we will then be conducting a search of their house.

"It could be their parents' house or grandparents' house, but we will carry out a search for further drugs under Article 20 of the Police and Criminal Evidence."

Det Insp Fitzpatrick said it was clear that young adults in the area were taking mephedrone in large quantities.

"The problem with doing that is that their bodies are not used to it.

"We will be taking a very strong line with mephedrone because of the deaths we have seen across the UK."

Police are concerned that now that the drug is illegal that it will be sold on the black market in significant quantities and at inflated prices.

The drug and its related compounds are now Class B substances after measures were rushed through Parliament recently.

Known as Meow, Bubbles and MCAT, mephedrone is derived from cathinone, a compound found in a plant called Khat.

The laboratory-produced drug has a similar effect to amphetamines, ecstasy or cocaine. But it also causes nausea, palpitations and vomiting.

The drug has also been linked to a number of deaths across the UK.

Under the drug classification rules, anyone found carrying mephedrone could face up to five years imprisonment - while dealers could receive up to 14 years. A number of websites that were selling the drug have also closed down.