Hippy crack sold on WhatsApp by British drug dealers to partygoers at the BBC’s Ibiza beach parties

British drug dealers in Ibiza used social media to sell the deadly party high ‘hippy crack’ to UK revellers at a BBC rave.

Freely touting for business on Facebook and Twitter, they posted their mobile numbers for orders.

The banned party drug – nitrous oxide, or laughing gas – was delivered to party-goers’ hotels, often within an hour.

‘Hippy crack’ was sold at the BBC Ibiza event for as little as £22 for a box of the nitrous gas canisters. The gas is transferred to balloons and inhaled (pictured)

Small silver canisters of the gas, which contributed to eight deaths in Britain last year, were sold along with ‘crackers’ used to transfer it into balloons, from which it is inhaled.

The Daily Mail witnessed a sea of revellers get through hundreds of balloons while guzzling alcohol on the fringes of the annual Radio 1 in Ibiza event in the resort of San Antonio.

One dealer who was approached on Twitter responded with a recorded message on WhatsApp within seconds.

 A girl with a Yorkshire accent promised to supply the drug to a hotel within 90 minutes. 

She said a box of gas canisters was 25 euros (£22) and a ‘cracker’ was 15 euros (£13), adding: ‘We also do other bits and bobs.’ 

The dealer, using a Twitter account called Ibiza Laughing Gas, claimed they were ‘so busy with Radio 1’. 

British drug dealers used social media such as WhatsApp and Twitter to sell the banned party drug to revellers (pictured) with one Facebook  ¿review¿ that had ¿brilliant service¿

British drug dealers used social media such as WhatsApp and Twitter to sell the banned party drug to revellers (pictured) with one Facebook  ‘review’ that had ‘brilliant service’

 Yesterday a post read: ‘Radio One weekend madness means there is a shortage of crackers on the island!’

Another dealer operating via Twitter and Facebook as Ibiza Balloons and The Nosfather, also responded within seconds, offering a box of 24 canisters for about 30 euros (£27).

He added that he was ‘mad busy today’ but could deliver the party drug within an hour. One ‘review’ crowed about ‘brilliant service’. 

 Last night Facebook thanked the Mail for alerting it to the dealer’s page, which was taken down. 

Experts say hippy crack can be dangerous as it can cause lack of oxygen and can be fatal when combined with alcohol 

Experts say hippy crack can be dangerous as it can cause lack of oxygen and can be fatal when combined with alcohol 

So-called hippy crack has become fashionable following a string of celebrities being pictured with it.

Users can experience a feeling of euphoria. 

But experts say the substance, used in anaesthetic work, is capable of causing a potentially fatal lack of oxygen, and is particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol. 

Its sale has been outlawed in Spain and was banned in Britain in 2016. 

However, Spanish police can often only act when money is changing hands and they can prove it is being used for recreational purposes. 

In the meantime it is openly sold in resorts like San Antonio, where buyers are mostly young Britons.

Radio 1 threw two raves outside the Café Mambo party venue on Friday and Sunday. The party had a perimeter fence with security.

Following the Radio 1 raves the picturesque beach was strewn with hundreds of empty nitrous oxide canisters. File photo

Following the Radio 1 raves the picturesque beach was strewn with hundreds of empty nitrous oxide canisters. File photo

However, hundreds of revellers gathered in groups nearby to use the substance. A number were unable to stand after inhaling from several balloons. 

One 19-year-old said she had ordered a box of 24 canisters advertised online and had consumed four of them. 

Others bought the drug on the beach from migrants who also offered ecstasy pills for 10 euros (£8.90) each and ‘super-strength’ cocaine for 70 euros (£62) a gram.

Following the party the picturesque beach was strewn with hundreds of empty nitrous oxide canisters, bottles and cans.

Facebook said it has strict policies for removing content which breaks its rules on selling illegal drugs. 

‘We thank the Daily Mail for bringing these accounts to our attention, which we are investigating,’ said a spokesman.

The Twitter accounts remained live. 

Dr Liam Brennan, president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said the drug posed ‘significant immediate and longer term risks’.

A Radio 1 spokesman said: ‘Robust search procedures were in place at this event, with no arrests or incidents reported.’

What is hippy crack and is it illegal?

Nitrous Oxide, better known as hippy crack was first synthesised in 1772, had been used for centuries as a pain killer by dentists and doctors during childbirth.

As well as medicine, Nitrous Oxide can be used by ‘boy racers’ to dramatically increase the horsepower of their cars. 

The use of Nitrous Oxide as a ‘legal high’ was outlawed under the Psychoactive Substances Act which came into force in May 2016.  

Party and festival goers are more interested in its 'euphoric' effects, file photograph

Party and festival goers are more interested in its ‘euphoric’ effects, file photograph

Party and festival goers are more interested in its ‘euphoric’ effects

Sellers of ‘hippy crack’ for recreational use were warned they faced up to seven years in prison under a Government crackdown on legal highs  

The Psychoactive Substances Act banned any substance that can affect a person’s mental functioning or emotional state by stimulating or depressing their central nervous system. 

Some substances – including caffeine, alcohol, prescribed medicines, tobacco and chocolate – are exempt from the ban.

The two key tests for prosecutors is whether it has ‘psychoactive’ effect and secondly if it exempted for medical reasons. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk