Five arrests over 'contaminated' drugs death

Five people have been arrested after a man died and 20 others became ill after taking what is believed to be a contaminated batch of the drug spice.

Officers were called by paramedics following the death of a man from a suspected overdose in the Pryme Street car park in Hull on Monday.

Humberside Police said others are believed to have fallen ill on Monday and Tuesday.

Four men, aged 27 to 46, and a 36-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, the force added.

Det Ch Insp Jon Cross said: "As a part of our initial lines of enquiry, we do suspect the man’s death and subsequent illness of others, to be linked to the contamination of a batch of drugs, believed to be 'spice'."

On Tuesday, Humberside Police, Hull City Council and the drug and alcohol treatment service ReNew said in a joint statement there has been a "higher than usual" number of people suffering drug overdoses in the previous 24 hours.

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