Ecstasy tablets recovered by Glasgow security staff 'may be linked to teenagers deaths', report outlines

Themed ecstasy tablets recovered by security staff could be linked to the deaths of three teenagers in Glasgow, a new report has outlined.

The MDMA pills were found by events security in the same month two teenagers died following an all-day rave event in the city.

Scott Allison and Marcus Dick both passed away in separate incidents after DJ Ben Hemsley’s set at SWG3’s Galvanisers Yard on Saturday, August 12.

Glasgow & West

Tributes paid to ‘much loved’ teenagers who died after all-day DJ event

Scott Allison and Marcus Dick passed away in separate incidents following the set at SWG3 in Glasgow.

A Public Health Scotland report published on Monday shared images of MDMA tablets recovered in August 2023.

The Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) report details: “The below are images of MDMA tablets recovered in August 2023 by events venue security staff in the west of Scotland.

“Some of these tablets have been reported to be linked to the deaths of young people.”

The tablets feature the face of Donald Trump with others imprinted with the Netflix and Twitter logos.

A third teenager died on New Year’s Day after becoming unwell at an event at SWG3.

Medical staff had examined the 18-year-old after spotting she was in distress. An ambulance was called after her condition deteriorated and she was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where she died a short time later.

Club bosses cancelled several events following the death while a “detailed review” was carried out.

Glasgow & West

Police drugs probe as teen dies after New Year’s Day rave

An 18-year-old woman fell ill at a popular nightclub in Glasgow and was rushed to hospital but later died.

The report outlines that the Police Scotland STOP Unit continues to see recoveries of both MDMA crystal and tablets (ecstasy) on a “regular basis”.

RADAR has received over 150 reports of drug-related information and harms through their reporting form and mailbox with 53 reports validated by RADAR between October 5, 2023 and January 4, 2024.