Spice epidemic is ‘biggest challenge’ for police force
THE problem of cannabis substitute drug spice could get worse, a senior Welsh police office has warned.
Chief Inspector Dave Jolly from North Wales Police said the highlyunpredictable drug is the biggest challenge faced by his force.
And a harder synthetic heroin could soon be making an appearance, a drugs charity has warned.
Spice, otherwise known as Black Mamba or Frozen Spice, is causing trouble due to its demand and police know little about the people producing it.
Users say they take the drug to “escape reality”.
Speaking about the synthetic drug on ITV Cymru’s Wales This Week, Chief Inspector Jolly said: “My gut feeling is the problem will get worse. It’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced since I’ve been in the police force.
“Police admit they have more intelligence on the producers of drugs like heroin and cocaine than they do on spice.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service responded to 197 incidents attributed to ‘legal highs’ in May and June this year, ITV figures show, with only 23 arrests in Wales since the substance was banned last year.
And now new, harder synthetic heroin-like substances could be making an appearance.
The National Crime Agency said a substance called Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than street heroin and has killed drug users in northern England.
Stephen Campbell, from drugs charity CAIS, told Wales this Week: “If we do nothing about it and just sit back and think it’s going to go away then I’d say that’s the time to be scared.”
Footage from the programme shows one spice user in Wrexham being held down by officers after lashing out.
A disturbing WalesOnline video from April also reveals the extent of the problem in Cardiff’s city centre, showing a man who appears to be frozen with his legs shaking.
Shop keepers in the city have said spice drug deals are a daily occurrence on St Mary’s Street.
One Wrexham woman has previously warned of her addiction to the drug, which at £5 a gram is far cheaper than heroin, crack cocaine or even a pack of cigarettes.
ITV Cymru’s Wales This Week programme will be shown on ITV Wales tonight at 8pm.