Police have arrested a man in Rochdale for supplying legal highs after nine people were hospitalised this week.
Legal highs are psychoactive drugs which mimic the effects of cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis or MDMA, but until today were freely available to sell over the counter and online.
Most are marked ‘not for human consumption’ and sold as herbal incense or cleaning products.
A 23-year-old man is now in police custody after being arrested this morning on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.
Nine people were left ill in hospital after taking a variety of popular legal high brands including ‘Annihilation’, ‘Spice’, ‘Cherry Bomb’ and ‘Clockwork Orange’.
One man who collapsed on Tuesday after taking a variety of legal highs had a heart attack, police say, and remains in hospital in intensive care.
A second man who had to be put in an induced coma after collapsing has now been released from hospital.
Two men, age 34 and 61, who were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs have now been bailed.
New legislation came into force on Thursday 26 May called The Psychoactive Substances Act, which means it is now a criminal offence to sell legal highs.
Detective Inspector Andy Butterworth of GMP’s Rochdale Borough said: “This legislation is not even a day old and we’ve already made an arrest which I hope goes to show just how serious Greater Manchester Police is about ensuring this law is abided by.
“It is now a criminal offence to sell psychoactive substances, which were previously more widely known as ‘legal highs’ so if you suspect a shop or business is continuing to supply them then please contact police.
“These are potentially lethal highs, not legal highs, and we will work vigorously to enforce this new legislation where necessary to protect the people of Greater Manchester.”
If you believe a shop or business is continuing to supply psychoactive substances please contact 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
