'Death threats' to bus driver who highlighted Wrexham Black Mamba zombie drug problem
The bus driver who lifted the lid on the use of “zombie drug” Black Mamba in Wrexham says he’s received death threats from addicts because the supply in the town has “dried up.”
Gavin Rhodda was confronted by a group of men who cornered him in the Co-Operative store on Tuesday and told him “we’ll have you for this.”
It comes after he shared shocking photographs in March that showed evidence of drug use at Wrexham bus station including carelessly discarded blood-covered needles and drugs paraphernalia .
Some images showed apparent users slumped in plant pots or sprawled on benches.
Police patrols in the area have since been stepped up as a result with several arrests made and stashes of the synthetic cannabis-style drug seized.
Speaking to the Daily Post, Gavin said: “The first incident happened on Tuesday morning when I nipped into the Co-op.
“Three addicts came down the aisle towards me and started making threats.
“They said: ‘You’re the guy who put those pictures on Facebook, we’re going to f*****g kill you. We’ll stab you. We’ll have you for this.”
“The staff in the shop started shouting at them to get out and said they were calling the police.
“A security guard came over and they left but they were still hanging around the area all day keeping an eye out for me.”
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Gavin added: “Then today, I had a phone call from someone telling me a different group of lads had been out looking for me.
“A Wrexham police officer called me afterwards and said they’ve seen a drop in Black Mamba use in recent weeks and that the supply in the town seems to be drying up and addicts are struggling to get hold of it.
“Police are now investigating, we’re just waiting for CCTV from the store.”
Since the Daily Post broke the original story, the issue made the headlines nationally.
It is now illegal to sell synthetic drugs, but legal to take the so-called “legal highs”.
Gavin said: “I’m glad that Mamba is drying up in the area because the effects of it are devastating for the addicts and their families, but I’m concerned as to what will be used in its place.”
Previously, North Wales Police Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones has said he believes the answer to Wrexham’s Spice and Black Mamba problem would be to make cannabis legal.
But one couple hit back saying their son almost died after taking so-called “zombie drugs” and said legalising such substances “is not the answer.”
North Wales Police have been asked to comment.
