Police investigate 88 UK deaths linked to Canada ‘poison seller’

An investigation has been launched into the deaths of 88 people in the UK who bought products on Canadian websites selling substances to aid suicide.

It comes after Canadian Kenneth Law, 57, was arrested in Ontario and charged with two counts of advising and aiding a suicide after allegedly selling a deadly substance to people around the world.

It has been reported that Law is accused of sending 1,200 packages to 40 countries and is now also under investigation by police in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) received information in April suggesting that several people in the UK had purchased products from Canadian-based websites selling substances to aid suicide, which were passed on to police forces.

In total, 232 people in the UK were identified as having purchased products from the websites in a two-year period up to April 2023.

The NCA said 88 of those people have died.

The law enforcement agency added that “at this early stage there are no confirmed links between the items purchased from the websites and the cause of death in any of these cases.”

National Crime Agency deputy director Craig Turner said: “Our condolences go out to the loved ones of those who have died. They are supported by specially trained police force officers.

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