Toxicology reports show that two Ole Miss students who died in suspected overdoses had three of the same substances in their systems after reportedly purchasing synthetic kratom from a local smoke shop, prosecutors said.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, died at separate locations in Oxford, Mississippi, on September 21. Police were called to both scenes after receiving reports that the students were unresponsive and possibly overdosing.
According to a court document obtained by Our News Outlet, toxicology testing detected mitragynine, along with the Schedule I controlled substances MGM-15 and MGPI, in both students.
Mitragynine is kratom’s primary active compound. The substance, which comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, can produce opioid-like effects.
MGM-15 and MGPI are potent opioid compounds.
The Department of Justice has announced updated emergency actions aimed at MGM-15, MGPI and other powerful kratom-related drugs as federal officials intensify efforts to restrict dangerous, highly concentrated products.
‘Dangerous and addictive opioids do not belong behind convenience store counters,’ Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
Kratom use began gaining ground in the United States in the early 2000s and became widespread around 2015, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Robert Strang, 20, from Atlanta, died on September 21 after police received reports that he was unresponsive and possibly overdosing
Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado, was the second student found dead
On October 1, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Department announced that two employees of an Oxford smoke shop, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and his son, Islam Mosleh, 18, faced federal charges of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
The two men worked at Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer in Oxford, near the university.
Oxford Police searched the business after receiving reports of alleged illegal drug sales. Officers said they recovered kratom, THC cartridges and other suspected narcotics.
That same day, Oxford Police reported another suspected overdose involving a 22-year-old on Sweetgum Lane, approximately five miles from the university.
‘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 third suspected overdose victim was not a student, and police said they do not believe the incident was connected to the university.
Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, faces federal charges of possessing 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 Mississippi smoke shop where he worked
Authorities arrived at about 5 a.m. and found the individual unresponsive. Emergency responders revived him at the scene before taking him to a hospital. Police said he was expected to survive.
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Officers learned that the individual also possessed synthetic kratom products, although they were not believed to have been purchased in Oxford.
The department added that the recent incident is not connected to the ongoing investigation into the two students’ deaths.
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.
Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer Store owner Amer Alowdi was previously indicted for trafficking drugs and has since left the country
According to federal court documents obtained by Our News Outlet, bank records showed that both students made purchases at Puffs Vape Tobacco and Beer on the same date.
An informant working with 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 an affidavit, cited by ABC News.
The affidavit noted that forensic testing confirmed that some of the pills contained kratom.
The shop’s business owner, Amer Alowdi, 40, was previously indicted for trafficking drugs and has since left the country, according to Oxford Police.
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 sent them to a forensic lab for analysis. There have been no arrests of employees at Express Mart.
Although prosecutors have cited toxicology findings, an official cause or manner of death has yet to be released.
Officials said that kratom (pictured here in capsules and its natural powdered form) was found during both investigations into the deaths at Ole Miss
Robert Strang is seen here in a post made by the Ole Miss Phi Delt Alumni showcasing their Rush Chairs for 2026
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Department said the federal court proceedings involving the two smoke shop employees represent ‘another step in an investigation that remains active and ongoing. Law enforcement has not stopped working this case.’
‘Investigators continue to review evidence and pursue additional information, and additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation develops,’ the statement added.
Kratom 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.
According to Action 5 News, Yahya will remain in custody as he awaits trial after a judge determined he was a flight risk, while his son, Islam, will be released on a $20,000 unsecured bond with conditions such as turning in his passport.
