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What is pink cocaine? Drug reportedly connected to Liam Payne, Diddy Combs

By Daniel Miller
Published  October 22, 2024 8:59am CDT
Crime and Public Safety
Fox TV Stations

Liam Payne had 'pink cocaine' in system, autopsy shows

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong joins LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to explain what "pink cocaine" is after an autopsy revealed that the recreational drug was in Liam Payne's system at the time of his death.

The Brief

    • Pink cocaine is a bright-colored drug that is gaining popularity in the New York nightlife scene.
    • The drug, also known as "tusi," is a combination of ketamine, often combined with MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, and opioids, according to the National Library of Science.
    • A partial autopsy showed that pink cocaine was one of the drugs found in former One Direction singer Liam Payne’s system and the drug is also reportedly connected to a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs.

A drug is reportedly being connected to former One Direction singer Liam Payne and music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. 

Payne, who died after falling from a hotel balcony on Oct. 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had a partial autopsy performed on his body and toxicology test results determined he had several substances in his body, including pink cocaine, according to a new report from ABC News. 

RELATED: What we know so far about Liam Payne's death

The designer drug has been mentioned in a civil lawsuit against Combs as one of the entertainer’s alleged drugs of choice, FOX 5 New York reported.  Here is what to know about the candy-colored drug. 

FILE-Liam Payne performs during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena on March 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

What is pink cocaine?

Pink cocaine, also known as "tusi," has been connected to drug seizures and, in some cases, is being trafficked by the notorious Venezuelan migrant gang Tren de Argua, FOX 5 New York reported.

Multiple drug checking studies have found that the majority of tusi samples contain ketamine, often combined with methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids, and/or new psychoactive substances, according to the National Library of Science. 

The bright-colored powder has been gaining popularity among the nightlife scene in New York City because of its low price and it is even being trafficked and sold in underground venues. 

RELATED: What is 'tusi', 'pink cocaine'? The colorful new designer drug that's taking over

While the mystery powder is pink, narcotics experts tell FOX 5 New York that there is only a small amount (if any) of cocaine in it, and this makes it tough to determine what other drugs or chemicals are inside of it. 

The Source

  • Information for this story was provided by FOX 5 New York’s Lisa Evers, ABC News, the New York Post, and the National Library of Science.  Evers received comments from New York law enforcement, a New York psychiatrist, and an NYU associate professor about pink cocaine.  The National Library of Science provides background on the contents of the drug.  This story was reported from Washington, D.C.