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| Fifth person arrested over 'unusual batch' of heroin in Devon | Fifth person arrested over 'unusual batch' of heroin in Devon |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Emergency services were called after incidents in Barnstaple, Bideford and Westward Ho! | Emergency services were called after incidents in Barnstaple, Bideford and Westward Ho! |
| A fifth person has been arrested after two people died from what police described as an "unusual batch" of heroin in north Devon. | A fifth person has been arrested after two people died from what police described as an "unusual batch" of heroin in north Devon. |
| Two people have died and 10 were admitted to hospital, said police, who declared a major incident on Friday. | |
| A man in his 30s from Westward Ho! died as a result of taking the substance on Friday, Devon and Cornwall Police said. | A man in his 30s from Westward Ho! died as a result of taking the substance on Friday, Devon and Cornwall Police said. |
| A second man in his 40s, from South Molton, who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday. | A second man in his 40s, from South Molton, who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday. |
| Two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance on Saturday, said the force. | Two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance on Saturday, said the force. |
| A fifth person, a man, was arrested on the same grounds on Sunday. | A fifth person, a man, was arrested on the same grounds on Sunday. |
| All five have been released on police bail pending further enquiries, said police. | All five have been released on police bail pending further enquiries, said police. |
| 'Serious effects' | 'Serious effects' |
| Emergency services were called after incidents in Barnstaple, Bideford and Westward Ho!. | Emergency services were called after incidents in Barnstaple, Bideford and Westward Ho!. |
| A major incident, which was declared because of the number people requiring medical treatment over a short period of time, was stood down on Saturday morning. | A major incident, which was declared because of the number people requiring medical treatment over a short period of time, was stood down on Saturday morning. |
| North and West Devon local policing area commander Supt Toby Davies said: "Tests continue to be carried out to ascertain what the substance is, but it is suspected that it is a substance which users will find causes more serious effects than heroin which they might usually use. | North and West Devon local policing area commander Supt Toby Davies said: "Tests continue to be carried out to ascertain what the substance is, but it is suspected that it is a substance which users will find causes more serious effects than heroin which they might usually use. |
| "Health partners are continuing to work with local drug-users in a bid to safeguard them as much as possible, but we would continue to urge any users to exercise extreme caution." | "Health partners are continuing to work with local drug-users in a bid to safeguard them as much as possible, but we would continue to urge any users to exercise extreme caution." |
| John Findlay, national harm reduction lead for drug recovery charity Humankind, said it was "definitely a possibility" that nitazenes, potent synthetic opioids, were involved. | John Findlay, national harm reduction lead for drug recovery charity Humankind, said it was "definitely a possibility" that nitazenes, potent synthetic opioids, were involved. |
| Bristol City Council-commissioned organisation The Loop said nitazenes had been found in multiple different samples in Bristol on Saturday. | Bristol City Council-commissioned organisation The Loop said nitazenes had been found in multiple different samples in Bristol on Saturday. |
| Mr Findlay said: "Due to the reduction of opium that's being grown in Afghanistan, there is a gap in the market and unfortunately that is being filled by really, really potent synthetic opioids which are extremely dangerous. | Mr Findlay said: "Due to the reduction of opium that's being grown in Afghanistan, there is a gap in the market and unfortunately that is being filled by really, really potent synthetic opioids which are extremely dangerous. |
| "We don't know what's in any of them most of the time, because it's an unregulated market." | "We don't know what's in any of them most of the time, because it's an unregulated market." |
| Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Devon | Devon |
| Drug use | Drug use |
| South Molton | South Molton |
| Heroin | Heroin |
| Barnstaple | Barnstaple |