Gas Station Owner Denies Link to Synthetic Kratom Found Near Dead Ole Miss Students

Key points

• Ibrahim Aydah, owner of Express Mart #7, denies selling the specific 'Smax' pills found near the bodies of Ole Miss students Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton.
• Aydah claims the pills found near Strang were 200 mg with different ingredients, whereas his store does not carry that version and does not use price labels on products.
• The DEA raided the store on Friday, seizing all kratom products, citing an August 26 federal order that placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in Schedule I.
• Aydah stated he was not notified by federal authorities that his products were illegal and expressed shock at the seizure of his inventory.
• Toxicology results for the two students are still pending, though a narcotics agent believes the label 'pseudoindoxyl' refers to the banned compound.
• The American Kratom Association has clarified that the synthetic substance found is illegal, distinct from natural kratom, and has been banned in Oxford and Lafayette County since 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Background

Two University of Mississippi students, Robert Strang (20) and Aidan Hamilton (18), were found dead on September 21 in Oxford, Mississippi. Packaged synthetic kratom products were discovered near both bodies, sparking a campus-wide fear and investigation. While authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of death, toxicology reports are pending. The deaths have prompted a broader scrutiny of local vape shops and gas stations selling synthetic kratom products, which have been federally banned since August 26 and locally banned in Oxford and Lafayette County for several years.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing regulatory challenges surrounding synthetic kratom products, which are often marketed as natural supplements but contain federally banned substances. The denial by the gas station owner raises questions about the supply chain of these illegal drugs and the effectiveness of federal enforcement in local retail settings. The pending toxicology results will determine whether the synthetic compounds were the direct cause of the students' deaths, potentially leading to further legal actions against distributors and retailers.

What to watch

Investigators are awaiting toxicology results to confirm the cause of death for Strang and Hamilton. The DEA has indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and Aydah has not been charged with any wrongdoing. The American Kratom Association continues to advocate for clearer distinctions between natural kratom and synthetic opioids, urging that synthetic substances not be conflated with the plant-based product.