Kratom seizures, arrests linked to Ole Miss student deaths; owner fled US

Mississippi authorities arrested smoke shop employees and seized 500 kratom units in Oxford after two Ole Miss student deaths, with owner Amer Alowdi having fled the US. The incident signals potential regulatory crackdown on kratom sales, though causality between the deaths and kratom remains unconfirmed. This marks a notable law-enforcement escalation in a substance-policy gray area.