A school has shared a drug alert warning with parents following the discovery of drug-infused sweets that can cause serious harm. The news comes following the recent death of Damilola Olakanmi, a 23-year-old law student from Ilford, who died after consuming a ‘gummy’ laced with cannabis on April 2.
Damilola and her friend became ill almost instantly after consuming the cannabis edibles and were rushed to an East London hospital for treatment but she subsequently died in hospital. Metropolitan Police said that the case may be linked to another incident in March involving a Tower Hamlets woman who was taken to hospital after eating a cannabis sweet.
Today (April 8), a Redbridge school issued a warning to parents and pupils after similar sweets were discovered. The message, as seen by MyLondon, reads: “Please take note of this drug infused sweet that can cause serious harm. This product is a class B drug and illegal – the ingredients on the packing may not reflect those in the sweets themselves. If you could please be vigilant and raise awareness amongst our community to be cautious and avoid purchasing and consuming this product or anything similar.”
The dangerous sweets are being sold in child-friendly packaging, which is a concern for parents and teachers alike, and the packet which Damilola brought was branded Trrlli Peachie O’s in a bright yellow and orange packet, which did not indicate the drug content on its ingredients list.
READ MORE: ‘Promising young woman’, 23, who died after eating ‘cannabis sweet’ named and pictured for first time
Leon Brown, 37, from South Norwood, in Croydon, was arrested in connection with the incident on April 1. He was charged with possession with intent to supply Class B synthetic cannabinoid, being concerned in the supply of a synthetic cannabinoid, and possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance.
Following the death of Damilola, the Met Police released a warning about the harmful and dangerous effects of so-called ‘gummies’. Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, of the Met’s East Area Basic Command Unit, said: “I must warn the public against taking any illegal substances, including those packaged in the form of cannabis sweets. Please do not buy or consume these products. They are illegal and, because of the child-friendly packaging, they can pose a risk of accidental consumption.”
(Image: Handout)
School leaders from across London have also shared their concerns regarding the drug-laced sweets and the dangers they pose. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is very worrying that cannabis sweets may come in child-friendly packaging. We haven’t heard any reports of these sweets being brought into school premises but, as with all problems in wider society, there is obviously a risk of that happening.
“There is clearly a finite limit on what [schools] can do, and what they need is for people not to produce, sell and purchase such items in the first place. We are very sad to hear of this tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young woman who has died.”
A spokesperson for drugs education charity Hope UK said: “Often the packaging of these products looks very similar to well-known brands of confectionery that appeal to children, therefore, one can only assume that they are being marketed to young people. The main problem with any products sold as cannabis edibles, sweets or ‘gummies’ is that they are illegal substances and as such, there is no way of knowing what exactly they contain… It is certainly something that parents, schools and young people should be made aware of.”
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