Electrically charged species having masses larger than 327 atomic mass units have been detected in the stratosphere by a newly designed ballon-borne mass spectrometer. The particles appear to be arranged in a layer peaking around 30 km alitude where their abundance is at least comparable to that of ''normal'' ions. The peak has a very steep top and a less pronounced bottom. Arguments are put forward favoring an interpretation on the observed particles as charge ''multi-ion complexes''. A possible role of the newly detected particles in the physics and chemistry of stratospheric aerosols and trace gases in discussed.