From tomorrow (1st April), new laws will make it illegal to import or export the drug mephedrone (also known as 'Plant Food' and 'Meow Meow') in the Isle of Man.
Under an amendment to the Medicines Act 2003, it will be also be an offence to sell or supply mephedrone or possess mephedrone with a view to selling or supplying it.
Previously mephedrone was known as a ‘legal high’ and the Police have been severely limited in what action they have been able to take.
Detective Inspector Terry Stephen, Head of the Drug Trafficking Unit, comments, "Mephedrone is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous drugs in circulation at the moment.
"Some people have mistakenly believed that something that is known as a ‘legal high’ must be safe to use.
"Nothing could have been further from the truth as has been illustrated recently by a significant number of deaths throughout the United Kingdom which are linked to mephedrone.
"I am delighted that legislation now exists enabling the Police to take action against those who import and sell this drug and I can assure the Island’s community that we will be doing all we can to utilise these powers and take action against mephedrone dealers.
"We have begun our campaign by targeting various suppliers of mephedrone (and associated products) based in the UK and warned them of the change in legislation.
"We have made it abundantly clear that should they persist in exporting mephedrone to the Island, we will seek to prosecute them and seize their assets, and make every effort to prevent these people profiting from causing harm and misery.
"We have also communicated the change in legislation to all Island-based businesses who are involved in post, package and parcel distribution and we, along with Customs and Excise Officers, will continue to work with them to detect importations.
"All of our drug detection dogs have now been trained to detect mephedrone and we are confident of intercepting consignments that continue to be sent or personally imported.
"We have been very concerned about the dangers relating to the use of mephedrone for some time.
"Now that enforcement activities can be undertaken, the Constabulary and our partners will be doing all we can to target persons who import and deal this product as a main priority."
The two police drugs dogs trained to detect mephedrone in addition to other illegal substances and firearms are active drugs dogs Alfie and Snoopy.
They, and their handlers Sergeant Ian Kelly and Constable Gianni Fabrizio, are demonstrating their skill at detecting mephedrone at Ramsey Grammar School’s drug awareness days held Tuesday and Wednesday this week (30th - 31st March).
Also attending the awareness days were schools drug and alcohol liaison officer Orla O’Donaghue and Bill Malarkey MHK, Department of Home Affairs Member with responsibility for the Chief Minister’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy.
Mr Malarkey said, "It has been recognised that drugs such as mephedrone represent risks to our community in terms of their addictive nature and their impact on health and behaviour.
"All agencies including Home Affairs, Police, Public Health, Social Services and Education are working closely together to respond to emerging drugs of concern, and training of these drugs dogs to recognise mephedrone will enable the police to stay one step ahead of it being imported and distributed in the Island now that has been made illegal.
"We are now aware that the UK is making mephedrone illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act from the end of April. The UK’s classification of mephedrone as a class B drug will automatically be applied in the Isle of Man and increase the potential penalties."
Anyone who has information about those who traffic mephedrone or any illegal substance should contact Police Headquarters on 631212. A reward may be payable as a result of your information.
You may also contact Isle of Man Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Crimestoppers is not an agency of the Police and will not callers for any personal details.
