POLICE have issued new warnings over toxic fake ecstasy pills similar to those which have been linked to the deaths of seven people in the west of Scotland.
The green-coloured pills, which have a "Heineken" logo as opposed to the "Rolex" tablets found on those in the west of Scotland, have been circulating in Aberdeen. Forensic tests have discovered they contain the same toxic stimulant Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) that was discovered in the west of Scotland.
Seven young people from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire West Dumbartonshire have died from the bogus ecstasy pills.
Chief Inspector George MacDonald said the exact contents of the pills found in Aberdeen were not known. He added: "What we have found is that they contain more than one class C drug as well as another dangerous substance, PMA.
"Public warnings have been issued recently in relation to the dangers of taking ecstasy, or indeed tablets being passed off as ecstasy.
"While these tablets do not feature the distinctive Rolex logo found on those in the Glasgow area they do contain the same toxic substance," said Ch Insp MacDonald.
"The impact of taking a drug you do not know the exact content of can be extremely dangerous and fatal in some cases."
There will be drugs amnesty bins at the entrance to the campsites at T in the Park, where illegal substances can be disposed of without risk of exclusion or prosecution. Officers said that once inside the venue, drugs will not be tolerated and anyone caught with drugs will be arrested.
Police Scotland said specialist drugs dogs will also be operating at T in the Park and added that it was "continuing work with its NHS partners in connection with this investigation".
PMA quickly elevates body temperature, the major cause of death. Symptoms include tachycardia, hypertension, agitation, confusion and convulsions.
Experts say that PMA can be mistaken for a low dose of MDMA, meaning that people take a bigger, potentially fatal, dose.
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