Pink cocaine “exclusive” big hit on Tik Tok

Birmingham-based George Hancorn, a digital video producer with ITV News, has notched up more than three million views on Tik Tok for his first-hand report on how police are trying to tackle pink cocaine on the streets of party island Ibiza.

George (pictured), who is a director of Birmingham Press Club, was given exclusive access as the only UK broadcaster to spend time with Guardia Civil, Spain's military police, during one of their busiest weeks of the year. He also interviewed drug clinic officials.

More than 800,000 Brits visit Ibiza every year – and this summer, for the second year in a row, the force has brought in officers from all across mainland Spain to assist in a crackdown on drugs and other crimes. 

George, who started his career at Local TV, said: “I filmed undercover along the Playa d'en Bossa strip – home to some of the world’s most famous clubs - to see how readily available the drug was. Within 30 seconds, I was approached by a dealer. Another six dealers approached me in quick succession as I moved up the road.  Prices for the drug ranged from €70 euros per gram up the drug to up to €100. That's between £60-£85 per gram. 

“But does this just impact Brits overseas, or should we be concerned about pink cocaine – a new emerging party drug - back on British soil? UK experts have warned that as drug markets change, the drug could become more widespread,” said George, who together with fellow ITV journalist Lewis Warner, is co-organiser of the Press Club’s Young Journalists Network.

He added: “Experts told me that taking pink cocaine is like playing Russian roulette. You never know what you're going to get.”

One of the key concerns with pink cocaine (also known as tusi) is that it rarely contains cocaine at all. It's usually a mix of other drugs including MDMA and Ketamine, but increasingly it also contains caffeine, speed and in some cases, fentanyl, which is a strong opioid, that's often used as a painkiller but can be highly addictive.

The big fear is that pink cocaine could soon grow in popularity in the UK. In the last two months alone it has been identified as being used in Abergale, Dagenham, Macclesfield and  Southwark.

Read & watch George’s full report: https://lnkd.in/eHgxv9BT Or see it on TikTok https://lnkd.in/exVX-g2g