How sinister armed gangs are selling KIDS vapes spiked with deadly zombie spice drug on Snapchat
Shouts of 'Police!' echo through the quiet street as they enter the property, searching for the man they suspect of selling deadly vapes to kids via phone app Snapchat.
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Ash Griffiths, 14, collapsed after puffing on a vape laced with zombie drug spice earlier this month
Credit: Dan Griffiths
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Synthetic cannabis in sweetie-style packs to entice kids - and a lethal-looking blade
Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvin Media
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Weapons and drugs seized in Greater Manchester raids
Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvin Media
They find Omar Abu-Sharkh, 20, at home in Moorside, Oldham — thousands of e-cigs, empty refill bottles and five-litre vats of lethal synthetic drug spice littering the house, along with a machete.
He is cuffed, read his rights and bundled into a police van.
Cops are hopeful they have smashed the operation.
But hours later, the dangerous vapes — touted as containing THC, the psychoactive substance found in cannabis — are for sale again online, tempting kids with popular Tango Ice Blast and Haribo flavours, plus refill vials as big as 200ml.
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The terrifying truth, however, is that these
'We are watching'
Callous dealers often
target
kids with popular flavours, and experts fear children will die if they buy a vape containing the potentially deadly chemical mix.
Police resume their search for the crooks operating the Snapchat channel and, three warrants later, thanks to the dedicated work of two specially trained digital officers, they find the first suspect's accomplices and shut it down for good.
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Team leader Detective Sergeant John Schofield told The Sun: 'While we can't say they were deliberately targeting teens, the nature of the packaging, brands, flavours, and use of Snapchat all attract a younger customer.
'For example, Tango Ice Blast flavour is what you'd get your kids at the cinema for a slushy. They were actively choosing flavours that are popular with children.
Disposable vapes will be banned across UK by next summer to stop Britain's kids from getting hooked
'These online criminals think they're not being noticed as much because they are not out on the street dealing.
'They can just run it from their bedroom, so they don't feel as visible.
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'They've got a certain amount of arrogance, but we are watching — and we do find them.'
These online criminals think they're not being noticed as much because they are not out on the street dealing
Detective Sergeant John Schofield
At
court
in March this year, Abu-Sharkh pleaded guilty to supplying class B drugs THC and synthetic cannabinoids.
Qais Rasul, 20, and Mohammed Jalal Aftab, 20, both also from Oldham, admitted the same crimes.
During one of the raids, Sufiaan Ali, 20, of Oldham, hurled a missile.
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He later pleaded guilty to possession of a readily convertible firearm as well as the drugs charge. All four men are due to be sentenced
next
week at Manchester crown court.
Dan Griffiths, 40, from South Shields, has seen first-hand the damage spice vapes can cause after his 14-year-old son Ash smoked one earlier this month — and collapsed.
'Ash had no idea what was in it,' Dan revealed. 'After a couple of puffs, he collapsed, and his friends were standing there laughing at his reaction.
'Thankfully, a passing nurse saw it and called an ambulance.
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'I ran across the estate to get to him. I was worried out of my mind.
'Seeing Ash pass out in the back of the ambulance left me terrified. I had no idea what would happen.
'Since then, he's had six seizures, and we're constantly in and out of the hospital. It's changed his life forever.'
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Detective Sergeant John Schofield with vials of synthetic cannabis
Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvin Media
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A man slumped in the streets - showing the signs of taking spice
Credit: Alamy
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Since smoking a spiked vape, Ash has suffered six seizures and now faces a life changed forever
Credit: NNP
Dealers go to great lengths to meddle with the ingredients in legitimate vapes. The Manchester gang were opening e-cig liquids, removing some, then topping them up to full using spice from China.
Other vape bottles they made up themselves with a mix of legitimate liquid and the imported contraband.
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In a bid to keep their profits out of police hands, Aftab and Ali swapped cash into gold bars and hid them in safety deposit boxes, which cops need an extra warrant to access.
Fellow crook Abu-Sharkh had gold coins at home to protect his earnings from the criminal enterprise.
Spice is a group name for
Last year, researchers from Bath University found one in six vapes confiscated in schools was laced with spice, which can cause heart attacks, seizures and psychotic episodes.
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They tested 596 vapes confiscated from schools in England.
Professor Chris Pudney, who carried out the research, said: 'You find spice in three places — prisons, homeless communities and schools.
'They all share the characteristics of having vulnerable people in their population.'
On the haul found by Greater Manchester Police, Prof Pudney added: 'If you search for THC vapes on Instagram or TikTok, you will see the same kinds of images. The thing I have not seen before is the labelling with the 'flavours'.
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'It points to a development in the distribution strategy and, as already noted, towards a younger age group.'
The study also found only one in 100 vapes contained THC.
'Collapse at school'
Genuine THC vapes will smell like cannabis and have a gel-like consistency, instead of being odourless and water-like.
Spiked vapes have caused hundreds of teens across the country to collapse, with many not realising that they are
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Ben Davies
, the headteacher at St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford, has witnessed the havoc that illegally doctored vapes can cause in teenagers attending his school.
Spice is neurotoxic and can often lead to seizures. It also can have profound effects on the heart... even in young, fit people
Helen Wall, GP
'We've seen kids being given what they think is an innocent, over- the-counter vape, and it contains synthetic cannabinoids or something else,' Ben said.
'Illegal vaping itself is a worry, but with the spiked vapes, we've had children collapse at school and had to call the ambulance. We've had hallucinations, dissociation, collapse, palpitations, all those sorts of things.
'There are symptoms that are sometimes similar to a panic attack, but they are much more severe.
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'What troubles me is how easily the children can get access to these vapes, often in some really sinister ways. And we have no idea what is in any of the vapes either — there's no way to really know.'
Explaining why spice is dangerous for children and teenagers to use, GP Helen Wall said: 'Spice can cause severe anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations. Psychosis can often occur, leading to violence and risk-taking behaviour.
'Spice is neurotoxic and can often lead to seizures. It also can have profound effects on the heart. Heart rate can be elevated, leading to high blood pressure, chest pain and heart attacks, even in young, fit people.
'Sudden cardiac death has been linked to spice.
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'
'Despite all of these nasty effects, individuals quickly gain psychological and physical dependence on the drug — more so than with cannabis. The withdrawal symptoms can be profound.
'Teens getting into spice are more likely to drop out of school, fail exams, become socially isolated and get involved in violent and risk-taking behaviours.
Read more on the Irish Sun
'Teenage brains are still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for decision-making and impulse control.
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'Spice interferes with this process, potentially leading to long-term thought and emotional consequences.'
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Crooks Omar Abu-Sharkh and Qais Rasul, both 20
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Drug criminals Jalal Aftab and Sufiaan Ali, both 20
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Cops warn that children buying vapes can have no idea what is in the product
Credit: Getty
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What are the new vape laws?
Ministers have pledged to crackdown on poorly regulated vapes and e-cigarettes following an explosion in the number of teenagers who use them.
New rules for manufacturers and shopkeepers are expected to come into force in 2025.
They are set to include:
Higher tax rates paid on vapes increase the price and make it harder for children to afford them
A ban on single-use vapes in favour of devices that can be recharged
A ban on colourful and cartoonish packaging that may appeal to youngsters
Tighter controls on flavourings and a ban on unnecessarily sweet or child-friendly ones like bubblegum and candy
More regulation on how and where they are displayed in shops, potentially putting them out of sight
Harsher penalties for shops caught selling them to under-18s
The ban on disposable vapes is part of ambitious government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping.
A report published by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) found 20.5 per cent of children in the UK had tried vaping in 2023, up from 15.8 per cent in 2022 and 13.9 per cent in 2020.
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The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My daughter was murdered by her evil ex who sent us chilling ‘I warned you all' text minutes before salon attack
Haunting CCTV also showed Hollie's twisted killer selling a DVD player so he could get money for the murder weapon FAMILY TORMENT My daughter was murdered by her evil ex who sent us chilling 'I warned you all' text minutes before salon attack NICK and Amanda Gazzard knew they had lost their daughter when the surgeon who battled for hours to save her life stood shaking in front of them at the hospital. Nick told The Sun: 'He didn't need to say anything - it was written all over the poor man's face." 10 Hollie Gazzard had repeatedly tried to break up with Asher Maslin Credit: PA:Press Association 10 On the day she died, Hollie had been expecting Maslin to turn up at her salon Credit: Rex Features 10 Nick Gazzard appearing on This Morning alongside his daughter Chloe Credit: Rex Features His beautiful daughter Hollie was just 20 when her jealous, crazed boyfriend launched a frenzied knife attack on her while she cut a client's hair at a beauty salon in Gloucester on February 18, 2014. Obsessed Asher Maslin stabbed her 14 times in front of horrified salon staff and customers after she repeatedly tried to break up with him. Hollie had met Maslin, 21, in a bar where she also worked a year earlier, but he soon became controlling. Chilling CCTV footage showed him selling his DVD player to get money to buy the 12-inch kitchen knife used to attack Hollie. He then bombarded the young hairdresser with abusive texts, including one that said: 'I don't want to get f***ing violent as I'll take it too far." Two days later, he texted her sister Chloe's partner, saying: 'I warned you all.' Minutes later, he walked into the salon and killed her. In July 2014, Maslin received a 24-year life sentence for Hollie's murder at Gloucester Crown Court. Hollie's father, Nick, a former professional footballer, spoke to The Sun about the tragedy that tore his family apart. He said the 'strain' of Hollie's brutal murder caused his marriage to his wife, Amanda, to break down, resulting in them divorcing two years ago. Stalked: Murder In Slow Motion - CCTV shows Asher Maslin selling DVD player to buy the 12-inch knife used to attack Hollie Gazzard He says: 'The impact of Hollie's death on all of us was, unsurprisingly, very, very difficult. 'I have always been a very positive kind of person, so my way of trying to deal with it was to throw myself into educating the public about the warning signs to look for in a toxic, controlling relationship. 'I set up a trust in Hollie's name, and I go around the country giving talks, offering advice. 'Amanda stayed in the background, and over time, we found we were travelling down different paths. "The strain of trying to somehow come to terms with Hollie's death affected our marriage. 'We are still as close as ever to Hollie's older sister, Chloe, who now has two children of her own, and the three of them are mine and Amanda's lives now. 'For Chloe, losing Hollie has been especially hard. In an instant, she lost her best friend, her soulmate, the person she could confide in about anything. 'After Hollie's death, Chloe struggled, but somehow she managed to come through it, and I'm so proud of her. "She's got two daughters, and they are our focus now.' 'Totally fixated' Nick said Hollie was 'a joy to be a father to'. He explained that she loved sports and threw herself into every activity she could. She was initially a very good footballer, but as she grew through her teens, she became more interested in fashion, hair and make-up. It soon became clear to Nick, like many girls of that age, that this would be the route she was going to go down. He continued: 'She was a quick learner and a hard worker. 'Hollie was ambitious too, and she set her sights on working in a hair salon on cruise ships a year or so before she was killed." It is so heartbreaking to think that if she'd stuck to her dreams and gone to sea, she'd have been safe from him, and she might still be alive today Nick Gazzard She had found an opening and was invited to go down to London to train for cruise ship salon work. But while Hollie was in the capital, Maslin followed her there and started giving her a hard time for wanting to take the job. Nick explained: 'He somehow managed to persuade her to ditch her dreams and stay in Gloucester. "It is so heartbreaking to think that if she'd stuck to her dreams and gone to sea, she'd have been safe from him, and she might still be alive today. 'Even though she decided to stay in Gloucester working as a hairdresser, she did repeatedly break up with him because of his behaviour, but he refused to let her go. 'Wherever she went, he'd find her and follow her, threaten her and make her life a misery. He just would not let her go. 10 Fringe Benefits hair salon in Gloucester where Hollie was brutally stabbed to death Credit: Rex Features 10 Nick urged parents concerned their daughter might be in an unhealthy relationship to get them to open up Credit: INSTAGRAM 10 He says he remembers the attack 'like it was yesterday' Credit: SWNS 10 Maslin received a 24-year life sentence for Hollie's murder Credit: PA:Press Association "He was manipulative, obsessive and had by then become totally fixated on her.' 'There's a knife' On the day she died, Hollie had been expecting Maslin to turn up at the salon, according to her then-boss Sian Pryszlak. She said: 'I'd agreed with Hollie earlier in the day that if he turned up, I wouldn't make a scene, I'd just call the police.' Just after 6.30pm, on February 18, Maslin walked into the busy salon. 'I was doing a gentleman's hair,' said Sian. She added: 'I said hello and he said hello and I walked to the back of the salon and held my phone up to Hollie to show that I was going to phone the police and we both nodded to one another. 'I remember feeling quite nervous and anxious about it. "I heard quite a lot of commotion and then there were people running towards me and one client said, 'there's a knife'.' The frenzied attack lasted just two minutes, but Nick says that his hurt will last for a lifetime. His work can never ease the pain he feels daily when he recalls the day of Hollie's death. He added: 'I remember the day we found out that Hollie had been attacked like it was yesterday. Every single detail stays fresh in my mind." Nick had been invited for a meal at a friend's house along with Amanda and Chloe. While out, he had to quickly nip back to the house to pick something up that he had forgotten. He said: "When I got home, there was a car parked up and a policewoman stepped out and asked me if I was Hollie's father. "She said she had something very serious to tell me and asked if we could go inside. 'I immediately began thinking through the worst things that could have happened to her. My heart was pumping. "When we were inside the house, this policewoman broke it to me as gently as she could that Hollie had been stabbed multiple times and was in hospital." Nick told how he raced back to the friends' house, picked Amanda up and drove to the hospital in a state of panic. When they arrived, they were told by a consultant that Hollie was in surgery. They were reassured that everything was being done in their power to try and save her life. Nick added: "I wanted to go in and see her, but they said that was not possible because she was being operated on and every second was critical. 'I hoped with all my heart they'd find a way to save her, but half an hour later, the surgeon came out to us. "He looked ashen, and he was shaking. He sat my wife and me down and told us he'd tried everything to save her, but she was dead. "That moment changed our families' lives forever.' Breaking the cycle In his public talks, Nick urges parents who are concerned their daughter might be in an unhealthy relationship 'to try and sit them down and get them to open up'. He added: 'Ask them if there's anything they'd like to talk about, and if they do open up, listen to them, take them seriously and help put them in touch with professionals who can give them clear, decisive advice. 10 Nick was made an OBE for his work in tackling violence against women Credit: PA 10 Maslin pawned a DVD player for £5 to pay for the knife he used in the crazed attack Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 10 Hollie was stabbed to death in front of colleagues at her salon Credit: Rex Features 'Through the trust I set up after Hollie died, I've lost count of the number of girls and parents we helped get out - and stay out - of destructive relationships. 'One of the most satisfying moments has been when the mother of a 19-year-old young woman contacted me to tell me that for years she had been unable to get her daughter out of an unhealthy, violent relationship. 'She told me her daughter would end the relationship, but then, within days or weeks, they'd get back together because he kept managing to convince her to try again. 'But after coming to one of my talks and reading through our advice online, she actually managed to help her daughter break the cycle and she finished with him… for good. Nothing will ever bring her back, but at least now I can help others make sure they keep their daughters alive and away from men who will harm them Nick Gazzard 'And now, she told me, her daughter has found a new boyfriend, someone who adores her and treats her with kindness and respect. She's finally in a healthy, happy relationship. 'That made my heart burst with pride. For me, that was the most satisfying moment since Hollie's death." Nick is well aware that he can't change what happened, but he has found comfort in helping others escape their abusive partners. He was made an OBE for his work by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace in March. He said: 'I am so glad to have perhaps saved at least one young woman from ending up in the situation my beautiful daughter Hollie found herself. "Nothing will ever bring her back, but at least now I can help others make sure they keep their daughters alive and away from men who will harm them."
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Man, 31, charged with murdering rugby star, 27, and dad, 58, in quadruple London stabbing
The rugby star died at the scene while his dad tragically died just moments later in hospital SUSPECT CHARGED Man, 31, charged with murdering rugby star, 27, and dad, 58, in quadruple London stabbing A MAN has been charged with murder after a dad and son were stabbed to death. Hassan Cevik, 31, was arrested on Monday, July 28, after police were called to reports of multiple stabbings at a business unit in Bermondsey, south-east London, at 1pm the same day. Emergency services attended the scene and treated four people for stab wounds, including Brendan McMillan, 27, and his dad Terry, 58. However, despite the best efforts of paramedics, Brendan tragically died at the scene while Terry died shortly afterwards in hospital. Cevik was also taken to hospital before being discharged yesterday. Today, he was charged with two counts of murder as well as a Section 18 grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
How Med island once swamped by illegal migrants has seen arrivals shrink to ZERO in 2 weeks thanks to hardline approach
IT is a figure that Britain's embattled political leaders can only dream of. Asked how many small boats have landed in Crete since it suspended new asylum claims from North Africa — and vowed to arrest anyone entering illegally –— deputy mayor Eleni Zervoudaki responds with a resounding 'zero.' 7 Crete has enacted a new hardline stance on illegal migrants Credit: Getty 7 On July 6 2,000 migrants landed on the island Credit: AFP 7 The centre in Chania which housed detained refugees and is now deserted Credit: Ian Whittaker Standing inside an empty migrant detention centre near Chania in the northwest of the Greek island, she says the hardline stance has not only stopped thousands crossing from Libya, it has also smashed the smugglers' business model. Eleni is on the left of the political spectrum so not a natural ally of the centre-right New Democracy party that won a landslide victory at the national elections two years ago. But in an exclusive interview, she told The Sun: 'Our new policy is for illegal people to be arrested and they are not allowed to apply for asylum. 'From the moral side it's illegal and it's not right, but from the other side I can understand the government is searching for a way to stop illegal immigration. 'A turning point came on July 6 when 2,000 migrants landed and there were so many boats from Libya we had to find a response. 'The majority — about 900 at the peak — were held in this building. Locals were stressed and afraid. 'We are a tourist island and of course there were concerns about what would happen if the asylum seekers continued to come. 'There are two or three million migrants in Libya and we are the door to Europe for them — most want to go to Britain, Germany and France. 'For the past two weeks there have been no boats. "Before, they were landing once or twice a week. First migrants detained under Starmer's 'one-in-one-out' deal with France as MORE boats arrive in UK 'I think the new policy will damage the smugglers' business model, so maybe this is something the UK government can learn from us. 'But I'm sure the smugglers will come up with another plan because there is a lot of money at stake. 'Migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh will pay up to 7,000 euros to cross to Europe.' The Sun's report comes after the Labour Government announced the start of its much trumpeted one-in, one-out deal with France, which has already been branded a 'farce.' The trial, which started on Tuesday, sees French authorities taking back a limited number of Channel migrants for each genuine refugee we accept in return. The Government says this will disrupt the smugglers' business model. But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Returning just six per cent of illegal immigrants, as reported, will have no deterrent effect whatsoever — because 94 per cent get to stay.' The Greek government faced a similar crisis when unprecedented numbers began to make the arduous, 100 nautical mile journey from Tobruk in Libya to Europe's southern- most island Crete. More than 10,000 had reached the island by last month, amid rumours the crossings were being organised by Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar as part of a 'hybrid threat,' to place pressure on Greek politicians. But new migration minister Thanos Plevris responded by taking the type of decisive action many British voters are crying out for. 7 Crete's deputy mayor Eleni Zervoudaki Credit: Ian Whittaker 7 Coastguard Dimitra Hasioti has not seen any new boats arriving since July 25 Credit: Ian Whittaker On July 11, he suspended all new asylum claims for people arriving from North Africa for at least three months, adding that anyone landing illegally would be arrested and could face up to five years in prison if they did not agree to be deported. It is a similar response to the one Reform leader Nigel Farage has pledged to introduce should he win the next election, although he credited Australia's 'stop the boats' policy for inspiring his thinking. Oz PM Tony Abbott's hardline stance achieved instant results in 2013. Under Abbott's Operation Sovereign Borders policy, small boats were intercepted and passengers returned to Asia or taken to overseas island detention centres. It resulted in a 90 per cent reduction in arrivals by sea. So what have been the results of the law change in Greece? Between July 11 and July 25, a total of 13 boats carrying 843 migrants made it to Crete, according to the Hellenic coastguard. Since then — none. 'OVERWHELMED' Georgios Sergentanis, 32, volunteers for Crete's Civil Protection group, and says locals felt overwhelmed before the policy change. 'Our organisation would give the migrants food and water when they were brought to the port and I understand why people were so concerned. "For five days at the end of June, we had 300 or 400 arriving every day and it was too much. 'Civil protection was not prepared because we only have 15 members and we have other jobs, so only five of us could look after the migrants. "About 95 per cent of them were men and they would be tired and hungry because it takes between 30 hours and three days to reach Crete from Libya and it is tough. 'But many of them looked angry and we did fear for our safety, because there were only five of us and there could be 30 or 50 of them. It felt intimidating.' Maria Kafetzidaki, 42, works as a waitress at The Wave restaurant overlooking Halikia Beach in Paleochora in southern Crete, where migrants from countries including Sudan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Pakistan would land previously. She suspects the crossings will resume once the strong winds lashing the Mediterranean abate, but she added: 'We have had a few good weather days in the past two weeks and no one landed, so let's see. 'Before the law was introduced people were crossing every day when it wasn't windy. 7 Georgios Sergentanis says locals felt overwhelmed before the policy change Credit: Ian Whittaker 7 Waitress Maria Kafetzidaki works at The Wave restaurant overlooking Halikia Beach where migrants would land previously Credit: Ian Whittaker "When so many landed last month, people were concerned because it's not normal. 'Some locals were worried about the effect on tourism, and the fishermen told me they regularly had to intervene to stop people drowning. 'But I don't know if the government's new policy will work because these people are escaping from difficult situations.' Katerina Drakopoulou, a Crete-based lawyer with the Greek Council for Refugees, is firmly opposed to the 'inhumane' government policy and is calling for a reception centre to be built. She said: 'Our view is that it's completely against European, international and Greek law. It cannot be justified by any means. 'We are seeing the criminalisation of refugees because the smuggling networks are forcing people in desperate need, who don't have any money, to drive the boats. 'When they arrive, they are arrested and charged with smuggling, so access to asylum is being criminalised. "The excuse the government uses is the huge number of arrivals. "But the number this year is similar to last year — the only difference is they were arriving on Crete and it used to be the Aegean islands.' 'CONCRETE ACTION' But Sevi Voloudaki, Greece's Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, told The Sun: 'Crete is not an open frontier. "It is sovereign Greek and European territory. 'We defend those borders through planning, legality, and absolute operational effectiveness. "Not through rhetoric, but through concrete action. 'That is why the temporary suspension of asylum applications was introduced. "It was a necessary measure, taken in response to an exceptional situation, to safeguard national security and to protect the integrity of the asylum system from being exploited. 'Under the new legal framework coming into effect this autumn, anyone who does not have the right to remain will be returned. 'If immediate return is not possible, they will be detained.' Commodore Dimitra Hasioti is proud the Hellenic coastguard has not seen a single migrant drown since the new smuggling route opened two years ago. 'Since July 25, we haven't had any boats arriving and, while I can't say for certain why they have stopped, it might be because of the change in the law. 'It seems possible that we witnessed the last irregular entrants landing on Crete two weeks ago.'
