Two Arrested for Kratom Possession Days After Ole Miss Student Deaths

Two men were arrested on drug charges in Oxford, Mississippi, following the discovery of more than 500 units of kratom, THC cartridges, gummies, and other suspected narcotics. The arrests occurred just days after two University of Mississippi students died in separate incidents.

Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, both of Oxford, were taken into custody by the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit. They have been booked for possession with intent to distribute. The police executed a search warrant at a tobacco and vape shop near the university campus.

Authorities have not confirmed a direct link between the shop and the recent student deaths. However, police stated that "packaged Kratom sold from a retail store" was found at both scenes where the students were discovered. The City of Oxford has prohibited the possession, distribution, and sale of kratom since 2019.

The two students who died were identified as freshman Aidan Hamilton, 18, and junior Robert Strang, 20. Strang was found at an off-campus residence, while Hamilton was discovered in his dormitory. Strang, from Atlanta, was remembered as a "dear son" and co-chairman of the 2026 Rush for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Hamilton, from Colorado, was described by his family as a "bright, wonderful young man who was taken too soon."

Additionally, police noted that the owner of the shop, Amer Alowdi, 40, was indicted for trafficking narcotics in 2022 but reportedly fled the country before prosecution.