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27.08.2022 - 03:53 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester Pride and Police have issued warnings about a drug called 'monkey dust' being mis-sold as MDMA at the city's LGBTQ+ celebration.
Event Organisers and Greater Manchester Police have both issued alerts on social media about the issue. "Monkey dust" is the street name for the synthetic cathinone MDPHP. The substance has similar effects to MDMA, the psychoactive ingredient in Ecstasy, and amphetamines such as speed.
'Monkey dust' is currently a Class B scheduled substance, which means it’s illegal possess, give away or sell. Possession can be punished with up to to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. MDMA is Class A scheduled substance, and possession is punishable with up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Read more: Calls for solidarity and joyous celebrations as Pride weekend begins in Manchester
In a warning issued on Friday night, Manchester Pride said that testing by Manchester Drug Analysis & Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE) had found "synthetic cathinone MDPHP (aka. Monkey Dust) being mis-sold as powder MDMA circulating at Manchester Pride Festival".
"If unwell please seek medical attention," added Manchester Pride.
In a Facebook post issued in the early hours of this morning, Greater Manchester Police said: "We have been made aware by Manchester Pride of synthetic cathinone (Monkey Dust) being mis-sold as powdered ecstasy
"Following a number of seizures of ecstasy (MDMA) in Manchester City Centre tonight (26 August 2022), MANDRAKE lab testing has found synthetic cathinone (Monkey Dust) being mis-sold as powdered ecstasy (MDMA) which is circulating the Manchester Pride Festival. Please be aware of this and if you feel unwell seek medical attention immediately."
Drugs advisory
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Here are your Manchester United evening headlines for Wednesday, August 31
Manchester United's transfer window might not be over just yet as the club have held exploratory talks over the possible signing of Sergino Dest.
A registered sex offender was caught taking 'hundreds' of pictures of women at Manchester Pride by plain clothes police officers. Andrew Smoggie, 51, of Thelwall Lane, Warrington, was seen acting 'suspiciously' around women during a Pride event on Peter Street.
Lisandro Martinez had already endeared himself to the Manchester United faithful, but an interaction with the travelling support in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Southampton will have bolstered his status.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a new phone scam warning concerning National Insurance (NI) numbers. It has been over a year since the last spate of scams involving NI numbers swept across the country, resulting in tens of thousands of incidents being reported to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, by June 2021.
Manchester United have held exploratory talks with Barcelona about signing right-back Sergino Dest on a season-long loan.
Manchester United are reportedly in negotiations with Barcelona over a late move for defender Sergino Dest.
A public health body has issued a warning to people that have eaten ready-to-eat smoked fish who may be at risk of listeria.
A councillor claims a police officer 'laughed' after he reported receiving a death threat at Manchester Pride. Coun Jon-Connor Lyons says a fellow festival-goer told him 'F*** off, I'll kill you', before hurling abuse at his female friend during an altercation in the queue for a bar.
“We always say rest in peace. Why don’t we ever say live in peace?” Rarely has silence said more than during the minute’s remembrance at Manchester Pride’s annual vigil.
A trans memorial tree in Manchester's Sackville Gardens has been left 'irreparably damaged' after going up in flames during pride celebrations. The National Trans Memorial, which is the first of its kind in the UK, caught fire on Sunday night (August 29) as revellers enjoyed the third night of pride.
A busy main road near Manchester city centre was closed on Monday evening after a van flipped onto its roof in a crash. Two vehicles were involved in the collision on Regent Road (A57), close to the roundabout, on Monday (August 29).
What a weekend it's been. Manchester’s annual Pride celebration has certainly been one from the books - and it isn’t even quite wrapped up yet.
Coronation Street star Kimberly Hart-Simpson wowed fans as she stepped out at Manchester Pride in an England football crest bikini. Kimberly wore Three Lions on her top as she struck a pose at the festival.
Coronation Street's Katie McGlynn has lead the stars celebrating at Manchester Pride which is taking place this weekend.The 29 year old, who is best known for playing Sinead Tinker on Corrie, looked incredible in a hot pink co-ord made up of a skirt and cropped blazer which she paired with white ankle boots. Posting plenty of snaps to her Instagram stories, Katie showed off her makeup for the event, which included sparkly eye shadow, heavy lashes and a slick of hot pink lipstick to match her outfit. She wore her short blonde hair straight and rocked a pair of cat eye sunglasses as she posed with pals and danced with a multicoloured pride fan.
Coronation Street stars were showing their Manchester Pride - heading out on the huge parade in celebration of LGBTQ+ culture through the streets of the city on Saturday. A host of famous faces from the soap headed on to an ITV open-top bus to wave to the thousands of cheering crowds lining the streets of the city.