Police warning as 'bad' heroin kills addict and leaves 3 seriously

ONE man died and three people were critically ill in hospital yesterday after taking a rogue batch of heroin.

South Wales Police are now warning addicts to be cautious while the contaminated batch remains in circulation.

The 32-year-old man who died was found in a house in the Canton area of Cardiff. He was confirmed dead on arrival at the city's University Hospital of Wales. Two men aged 23 and 24 and a 27-year- old woman are in intensive care after suffering from suspected overdoses.

Detective Inspector Dave Bishop of South Wales Police, who is leading the investigation, said: "These were separate incidents - they were not in a group when they used the drug. All we suspect is that heroin is being sold across Cardiff and want to warn people of the heightened dangers of using heroin while this batch is around." Det Insp Bishop has drafted in 20 officers to run a major incident room to track down the heroin batch.

He added: "There is a problem with heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff, but I'd say that was true of every major city. However we do recognise the problem and that's why we have launched Operation Tarian (Welsh for shield)."

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