Two employees of a tobacco and vape shop near the University of Mississippi campus were arrested on drug charges following the recent deaths of two Ole Miss students in separate incidents. The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit executed a raid on the establishment, located about one mile from campus, recovering over 500 units of kratom along with THC cartridges, gummies, and other suspected narcotics.

Authorities indicted 51-year-old Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and 18-year-old Islam Mohamed, both residents of Oxford, on charges of possession of Schedule I controlled substances with intent to distribute. The shop’s owner, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, was indicted in 2022 on narcotics trafficking charges but fled the country prior to prosecution, according to the narcotics unit.

The arrests come days after the deaths of Ole Miss students Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, which remain under investigation. Although officials have not established a direct link between the smoke shop and the students’ deaths, packaged kratom sold from a retail source was found at both sites, the drug unit previously stated.

Investigators emphasized that the case involves broader efforts to address illegal distribution channels beyond the individuals and the business involved in this operation. The narcotics unit indicated that the inquiry will continue as authorities seek to identify all parties connected to the illicit supply of these substances.

No further details have been released regarding the circumstances of the students’ deaths or any potential involvement of additional suspects. The ongoing probe aims to clarify the role of these products and vendors in the incidents.