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Wednesday, 9 May, 2001, 10:33 GMT 11:33 UK
Tests expected on 'heroin' deaths
Drugs and syringe
Police are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests carried into the death of three women believed to be the victims of a rogue batch of drugs.

The victims' bodies - all in their 20s and with "links with the illegal drugs fraternity" - were discovered over the last 10 days at addresses across north west Wales.

Student Lorna Spinks who died after taking ecstasy
The deaths are not related to Lorna Spinks'

Detectives - who are urging drugs users to be wary - have said they are not linking the deaths with that of 19-year-old Anglia Polytechnic student Lorna Spinks, who died after taking two ecstasy tablets over the weekend.

Three days earlier, police in Norfolk had warned that "rogue ecstasy" was in circulation in East Anglia.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said the deaths were not believed to be linked to ecstasy.

Drugs supplier

And although officers are not yet certain what drugs were involved, it thought the substance could be heroin.

They are currently trying to track down the drugs supplier.

The first case came to light in Caernarfon when the body of a 21-year-old woman was found at her home.

The body of another 21-year-old was subsequently then found was her home in Bethesda.

Earlier this week a 28-year-old woman was discovered at her home in Holyhead.

Lethal overdose

At around the same time, an open verdict was returned at an inquest into the death of a young mother whose body was found alongside her unconscious husband following a lethal heroin overdose.

The inquest at Flint heard conflicting medical evidence on whether or not 21-year-old Lisa McHugh would have been capable of injecting herself, as she had fractured her left arm.

Her body was found at the couple's home in Saltney.

Her husband recovered at the Countess of Chester Hospital and denied at the inquest that he had injected his wife with heroin.

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See also:

20 Feb 01 | Health
UK children top drugs league
26 Feb 01 | Health
Drug-related deaths soar
06 Jun 00 | World
Factfile on drugs
09 Jun 00 | World
Drugs: A global business
08 May 01 | Talking Point
Who's winning the drugs war?
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