The share of drug victims in Astrakhan rose to 21, a figure confirmed by the press service of the Astrakhan region’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Official information notes that investigations included searches at the victims’ residences and on mobile devices, with items linked to the case seized during the searches.
Witnesses who were questioned stated they bought the illegal substances from an unregistered online storefront and collected them from caches located within the regional center.
Medical professionals reported that 17 individuals showed signs of poisoning, with two in a serious condition receiving care at a local hospital in Astrakhan.
In total, at least 25 people were affected by methadone exposure in the Astrakhan region. Three victims were involved in the incident. Those affected believed they had taken mephedrone, a drug with a higher price tag.
Law enforcement teams detained three suspects accused of distributing prohibited substances. The detainees were identified as residents of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Further details about the mass poisoning were reported by the publication Newspapaer.Ru in a feature piece.
Earlier reports from the Leningrad region mentioned a 15-year-old who was hospitalized after drug poisoning.