Rogue 'super strength' heroin batch may be linked to nine deaths in single county, police fear
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Nine people in a Yorkshire have died in less than one month after it is feared they fell victim to a deadly 'rogue' heroin .
The string of deaths began this month when two men and a woman died in Sheffield inside a week prompting a police warning to all drug users.
But officers were forced to act again this weekend after six more deaths within 48 hours.
A coroner's investigation is underway into each death.
Four people died in the Barnsley area and two more in Leeds and Normanton over Easter.
They are all feared to have taken a 'super strength' heroin before they died.
In the latest deaths, officers found a 36-year-old man's body at a property in Compton View, Leeds at about 8.20am on Saturday.
(Photo: Getty)
Then just three hours later paramedics were called to a 27-year-old man with breathing problems in Park Green, Normanton. He died at the scene.
These deaths came within 24 hours of the discovery of the bodies of three men and a woman at separate addresses in Barnsley, South Yorkshire on Good Friday.
Det Chief Inspector Jim Dunkerley, said: “We do believe these deaths are Class A drugs-related.”
The force said it was aware of warnings issued by other police forces about unusually strong heroin in circulation.
Police are waiting for toxicology results to confirm the cause of their deaths.
Class A drugs include heroin, cocaine, including crack, methadone, ecstasy, LSD and magic mushrooms.
"It seems prudent to issue a warning now to local drugs users," Det Ch Insp Dunkerley added.
South Yorkshire Police said it was not officially linking the deaths, but warned drug users to exercise caution.
Temporary Ch Insp Ian Proffitt said the force was trying to establish a possible link to the strength or content of heroin being sold locally.
(Photo: Getty Images)
"For four deaths to occur in similar circumstances in a small time period and in a relatively small geographical area is unusual," he said.
"The public should exercise caution if they come into contact with controlled drugs, particularly heroin, or heroin derivatives.
"If you experience any unusual symptoms after taking drugs, seek medical attention immediately."
A 37-year old man and a 42-year-old man arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs have been released on bail.
South Yorkshire Police is urging anyone with information about the illegal supply of drugs to contact them.
Figures released last September revealed drug deaths in Yorkshire were at an all time high.
Government statistics revealed that 297 deaths from drug poisonings were registered in Yorkshire in 2015, a figure up 50 per cent from 195 in 2014.
Nationwide, there were 3,674 drug poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales in 2015, the highest since records began in 1993.