I am aware of these pills in our region – not sure if they contain any particularly nasty substances but the ones which are about are quite strong (same strength as early 90s pills it seems!) – if taken in large amounts could easily be nasty..
POLICE have arrested a man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs following the death of a young man after a night out in a Suffolk town.
Darren Baker, 22, was rushed to hospital after becoming seriously ill near a nightspot in Newmarket in the early hours of Sunday. It is believed he may have taken “a quantity” of ecstasy tablets.
Efforts to save Mr Baker – from the nearby village of Burwell – were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at 3pm that afternoon.
Suffolk police confirmed a 27-year-old man, from Newmarket, had been arrested in connection with the incident, and he was being questioned at Bury Police Station last night.
Officers also released a description of ecstasy tablets thought to have been taken by Mr Baker, and issued a warning over the dangers of illegal drugs.
Last night, residents in Newmarket spoke of their shock at hearing of Mr Baker’s death, which is currently being described as “unexplained” by police.
Hollie Hinc , who runs the Istanbul Kebab shop, in the High Street, with her husband, Sukru , said: “There are normally a lot of people about at that time of the morning and it is not unusual for police to be in the area, but nothing like this has ever happened before so it is a real shock and a shame that someone has died.”
Warwick Hirst, mayor of Newmarket, said: “For someone to die at just 22 years old, when they have got their whole life in front of them, is very, very sad, and I am sure people in the town will feel shocked by what has happened.”
Mr Baker was standing in an alleyway off Grovesnor Yard when he became “unsteady on his feet and appeared very unwell”.
Police officers who were on patrol nearby were made aware of the situation, which unfolded at around 2am.
An ambulance was called, but the officers are believed to have taken Mr Baker to West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury, themselves.
A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “From the initial enquiries that police officers have made, it is understood that Mr Baker may have taken a quantity of ecstasy tablets which are currently in circulation.
“These are described as speckled two-tone pink, with kangaroo shapes cut into them.”
A post mortem examination will now take place to determine the exact cause of Mr Baker’s death. The spokesman added: “As a precautionary measure, police are reminding people of the dangers of taking illegal drugs.”
A spokesman for the East Anglian Ambulance Service said a call was received at just after 2am informing them someone was unwell in the town centre.
“A crew was sent to Newmarket, but on arrival, they discovered police had already taken the patient to hospital,” he said.
