Gas Station Owner Denies Link to Synthetic Kratom Found Near Dead Ole Miss Students
Ibrahim Aydah, owner of Express Mart #7 in Water Valley, Mississippi, denies that 'Smax' Pseudo-DHM pills found near the bodies of two deceased University of Mississippi students originated from his store. Aydah stated that the pills found near Robert Strang’s body differ from his inventory, specifically noting that his store does not carry the 200 mg version or the specific ingredient list found on the packaging near the student. Federal agents from the DEA raided the store on Friday, seizing all kratom products following an August 26 federal scheduling order that banned the sale of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl. While Aydah expressed condolences to the families of the victims, he maintained that he is a businessman, not a drug dealer, and was unaware that his products were illegal. Court documents indicate that an undercover agent purchased similar pills from the store, but Aydah disputes the connection to the specific packages found at the crime scenes. Toxicology results for the students, Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton, remain pending, though authorities have linked the deaths to potential drug overdages involving synthetic substances.