Bury teenagers critically ill as 'dangerous' tablets recovered

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-46921289

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Three boys have fallen seriously ill after taking drugs, with police recovering an unidentified batch of "dangerous" tablets.

The boys, two aged 15 and one 14, were taken to hospital after becoming ill in Bury, Greater Manchester on Thursday.

One of the 15-year-olds and the 14-year-old remain in a critical condition while the second 15-year-old was described by police as "seriously" ill.

A 40-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of intent to supply drugs.

Greater Manchester Police believe the teenagers took an unknown substance sometime on Wednesday before becoming ill the following morning.

After being arrested on suspicion of drug dealing, one of the 15-year-olds was taken to hospital where he was initially placed in an induced coma before his condition improved.

Police said the boys had suffered "a highly unusual and worrying reaction".

Officers later recovered a batch of unidentified tablets which, when tested, were found to "contain a concerning number of components".

Ch Insp Phil Spurgeon said: "The specialists advise us this is highly unusual and the conclusion is that these drugs are dangerous.　

"The drugs recovered are in pill form with the letters UPS on them. They are beige in colour, and have a strong and sickly smell.

"Some of the tablets are very fragile, and may be found to be reduced to a powder, rather than in pill form.

"They may have been home-made as opposed to some form of industrial process."

He appealed for anyone who had taken a tablet matching that description to seek medical advice.

He also appealed for anyone with information about where the drug may have come from to contact police.