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Police have urged those in the area who have bought cocaine to dispose of it. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Police have urged those in the area who have bought cocaine to dispose of it. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Essex police warn of dangerous cocaine batch after man dies

This article is more than 5 years old

Three arrests have been made since the 22-year-old died after a night out

Police have made a third arrest after a man died after a night out in Essex, and have warned drug users about a potentially dangerous batch of cocaine in circulation locally.

Although the man’s death is being treated as unexplained, Essex police said cocaine that could pose a “a direct threat to the safety of those who’ve bought them and are using them” was on sale in Colchester.

Police said a 22-year-old man, since deceased, and a 20-year-old woman were taken to hospital at about 2.50am on Saturday after becoming unwell at a property in Egerton Green Road.

The woman remains in hospital in a stable condition and is assisting officers with their inquiries.

A 20-year-old man remains in custody for questioning on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Another 20-year-old man, from Elmstead, and a 35-year-old man from Colchester were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences have since been released under investigation, the force said.

DI Kev Hughes said: “We understand members of a birthday party were out drinking in the Shrub End area of Colchester yesterday. At some point during the evening, cocaine was purchased and taken by some people at the party.”

He urged people who may have purchased the narcotics to dispose of them and to seek medical attention if they felt unwell.

Essex police are yet to receive any further reports of anyone needing medical assistance after taking cocaine in the area; however, the warning remains in place.

The UK’s first city-centre drug testing facility opened in Bristol in May, and there have been calls for a wider rollout to reduce the number of drug-related deaths.

Last week, it emerged that the number of hospital admissions for mental health disorders linked to cocaine use almost trebled in the past decade.

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