MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Michigan and Metro Detroit Law enforcement agencies are sounding the alarm about a dangerous designer drug known as “Pink Cocaine” or “Tusi” that has recently appeared in Warren.

The synthetic drug has gained national and international attention after being found in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ possession during his arrest and at the autopsy of former One Direction singer Liam Payne.

Orville Greene, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division, describes these substances as “addictive and deadly” and increasingly available, even to young people. In Warren, officers are already encountering pink cocaine in both pill and powder form.

“It’s an international issue right now,” explains Lt. Craig Bankowski of the Warren Police Special Response Team. “It’s marketed to our youth.” He said the synthetic nature of the drug makes it particularly difficult to track because users can buy components online and create their own mixtures.

While marketed as “pink cocaine,” the drug rarely actually contains cocaine. Instead, it often combines ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamine, crack, synthetic opioids and psychoactive substances, including xylazine – a powerful tranquilizer for horses.

“Xylazine doesn’t respond to Narcan or naloxone. It’s not going to help,” Greene said, making overdose situations even more dire.

The medicine comes from 2C-B and gets its pink color from additives such as food coloring and tinted baking powder.

Pink cocaine even comes in flavors, like strawberry, adding to its appeal to young users. The influence of celebrities and social media has also fueled its popularity among the youth.

“It’s done through the music industry, through social media, through celebrities,” Lt Bankowski said.

Since 2020, the DEA has seized nearly 960 exhibits of pink cocaine, but only four contained 2C-B, the deceptive nature of this drug. Greene calls the public’s willingness to trust drug dealers “unbelievable,” highlighting the unpredictable risks.

As pink cocaine continues to show up in various states, the DEA and local law enforcement are urging parents and communities to be vigilant and “have those tough conversations with your kids.”