BERLIN – German police issued a warning Wednesday about a potentially dangerous “Blue Punisher” strain of ecstasy in circulation, following the deaths of two adolescent females related to the drug.
A 13-year-old girl from the town of Altentreptow died Monday at a hospital after swallowing one of the blue tablets with a skull insignia associated with the Marvel comic book character The Punisher, according to police in the northern state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania.
According to authorities, two additional teenagers, ages 14 and 15, were also hospitalised after taking the substance. In connection with the girl’s death, a 37-year-old German has been detained.
Authorities in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg are also looking into the death of a 15-year-old girl who died over the weekend in the town of Rathenow from a suspected narcotics overdose. Prosecutors say an autopsy will reveal whether she died as a result of the drug.
“We strongly advise against the use of any narcotics, particularly the dangerous ‘Blue Punisher’ pill,” Neubrandenburg police warned in a statement. “These pills have a very high dose of (the chemical) MDMA.”
It went on to say that even half a pill, which is widely available in the region, might induce life-threatening disease.
Source: AFP