National Crime Agency probe as 88 UK deaths linked to Canada ‘poison seller’

The disclosure comes after Canadian Kenneth Law, 57, was arrested in Ontario and charged with counselling and aiding suicide after allegedly promoting a deadly substance to individuals internationally.

Mr Law is accused of sending 1,200 packages to 40 international locations and is now also being investigated by police in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

British police started investigating in April after receiving data that a lot of individuals within the UK had bought merchandise on Canadian web sites which bought substances to help suicide.

In complete, 232 people within the UK have been recognized as having bought merchandise from the web sites in a two yr interval as much as April 2023.

The NCA mentioned that 88 of these individuals have died.

The regulation enforcement company added that “at this early stage there are not any confirmed hyperlinks between the objects bought from the web sites and explanation for demise in any of those circumstances”.

National Crime Agency deputy director, Craig Turner, said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the loved ones of those who have died. They are being supported by specially trained officers from police forces.

“In consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the NCA has taken the decision to conduct an investigation into potential criminal offences committed in the UK. This operation is underway.”

Canada’s Peel Regional started its personal investigation in April following the sudden demise of an grownup within the Toronto space.

Since Mr Law’s arrest, police forces throughout the UK have been making checks on everybody who ordered the substance.

The former chef, who’s in custody in Canada, is because of seem in courtroom once more later this month.

Under the Canadian prison code, counselling or aiding an individual to die by suicide may end up in a 14-year jail sentence.