Mephedrone sales time is wrong, says web supplier (From The Northern Echo)

Mephedrone sales time is wrong, says web supplier

8:24am Friday 16th April 2010 in Mephedrone: The Dangers By Dani Webb, Chief Reporter (South Durham)

A NORTH-EAST business that sold the newly-banned drug mephedrone last night pledged to stop marketing the substance – despite its website saying it would be on sale until 2pm today.

The site, thebigmeph.co.uk, has been supplying the class B drug to customers across the North-East.

Legislation making mephedrone illegal came into force at midnight The website is also offering to provide information to people now that the ban is in force.

A spokesman for thebigmeph.co.uk last night said the time given on the website was a mistake.

Initially, he said: “We are going to sell it until 2pm.” But when challenged by The Northern Echo, he added: “We are not going to sell it. People can get in touch for information that’s all. The time is wrong on the website.”

The spokesman said the plant food company had been established for two weeks and he planned to move onto another business, before he hung up.

The website uses all the mephedrone street names and sells the product in grams.

A disclaimer says it is not for human consumption.

The drug has been blighting the streets of the North-East since last summer.

But until today, police officers had been unable to take any action against users and suppliers, instead only offering words of advice over its dangers.

Cleveland Police has launched Operation Bast to remove it from the area, following its class B classification.

Detective Inspector Dave Mead, of Cleveland Police, said his officers will today start a clampdown over its use.

“It has started to become a bigger problem since we first came across it,” he said.

“But until now we have been unable to do anything about it.

“We have noticed an increase in violent assaults due to the effect it has on people.

“The problem has mainly been among 17 and 18-year-olds, but we have intelligence that suggests secondary school pupils of about 14 have tried it too.”

The cost of mephedrone is between £10 and £20 for one gram, compared with about £40 for the same quantity of cocaine.

Det Insp Mead said: “We will not tolerate people using or supplying this drug.

“The misery this drug can cause, especially in the community, is of grave concern to us.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers last night urged forces around the country to concentrate efforts on those selling the drug, rather than the users, although both can face prosecution.