Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Ecstasy death beyond the big city – “A thousand question marks”
The drug death of a 13-year-old from Altentreptow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania raises many question marks and fears of further cases. photo
© Bernd Wüstneck/dpa
A particularly strong chemical drug is wreaking havoc in north-eastern Germany. Far away from the big city, this causes dismay and many question marks.
Ecstasy is actually considered a party drug that can be found in the clubs of the big cities. But since this week, the drug death of a 13-year-old from the small town of Altentreptow has been causing problems Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for many question marks. Two other teenagers from the region are in intensive care after consuming the Blue Punisher ecstasy variant, which is considered to be particularly strong. Investigators also suspect an overdose of chemical drugs as the reason for the death of a 15-year-old in neighboring Brandenburg.
“The most recent cases must encourage us (…) to invest more energy and money in expanding prevention in schools,” demanded the federal government’s drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert (SPD). “It saves lives when children and young people know very early on that the little brightly colored pills can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. And that they also know that the pills can also become a deadly hell trip, even if they take the pill from given to a nice buddy in the schoolyard.”
Particularly treacherous
It seems that there have recently been particularly insidious drugs in circulation. Blue Punisher pills are mostly blue with a skull and crossbones reminiscent of the Marvel character The Punisher – a comic book hero. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, it is not a separate drug. Tablets with the same logo could come from different sources and have completely different compositions and effects. However, the “Blue Punisher” pills typically contain a lot of active ingredient. According to experts, an overdose can occur even if you take less than one pill.
In view of the start of the Fusion techno and culture festival in the Mecklenburg Lake District, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s CDU General Secretary Daniel Peters appealed to the responsible authorities to make themselves aware as soon as possible “that a major catastrophe could be imminent”. Up to 70,000 mostly young people are expected at the music and theater festival in Lärz until Sunday.
Why do people create such high-dose drugs as “Blue Punisher” and why do people give them to inexperienced children and young people? “For me, that’s a thousand question marks and every time my hair stands on end,” said a police spokeswoman from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The local police even suspect that an even stronger version of “Blue Punisher” was recently circulating. But further studies would have to show that. It may be a specific batch that was imported from other European countries.
Extensive investigations
The investigation is proceeding swiftly. Drug offenses are always extensive investigations, said the police spokeswoman. “Where does it come from? Where does it go? A dealer doesn’t just deal to one, but to several.” As early as Monday evening, the police had arrested four suspects – a 37-year-old, a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds. An arrest warrant has been issued for the 37-year-old. The other suspects are now free again, but are said to be connected to the case of the 13-year-old from Altentreptow.
Because of the death of the 15-year-old girl in Rathenow, Brandenburg, the public prosecutor’s office is investigating a young person. A spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office in Potsdam said there was initial suspicion that the underage suspect had procured narcotics for the young people and thus carelessly caused their death. The spokeswoman did not say what kind of drugs it was. It will be checked whether the narcotics in question were at least “contributory” to the death of the girl.
According to the police in MV, there is a risk that the high-dose drugs will continue to circulate. Experience has shown that there is a large number of unreported cases because owners did not report themselves. After warnings from the authorities, especially about “Blue Punisher”, another girl from Malchin reported in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and confirmed the consumption of the drug. Accordingly, it suffered from nausea and abdominal pain at times, but was well again. According to the police spokeswoman, however, the girl had not noticed any of the feelings of happiness that a drug normally promises.