Canadian ‘poison merchant’ linked to the deaths of 88 people in the UK | UK News

A Canadian man accused of selling poison online has been linked to almost 90 deaths in the UK. 

Authorities in Ontario charged Kenneth Law, 57, on two counts of counselling and aiding suicide, believing he had ‘distributed and marketed [a] substance online to target individuals at risk of self-harm.’

Police reportedly accuse Law of distributing more than 1,200 packages of dangerous substances to vulnerable individuals in at least 40 countries around the world. 

The investigation into Law is now reported to have expanded, with the UK National Crime Agency revealing it has identified more than 272 people who bought toxic items from Canadian websites thought to be linked with Law in the two years prior to his arrest. 

Of that number, 88 people are understood to have died.

A father of one of Law’s alleged victims recently told BBC Radio 4 his son was ‘encouraged by members of a certain online community’ on how to take his own life, specifically by ‘taking poison’.

He said: ‘There were a number of people who openly sold that poison, including as we know now, Kenneth Law, who has [allegedly] been responsible for 88 deaths in the UK.

‘We will find out more about Kenneth Law’s [alleged] impact across the world. The picture is still emerging and the UK authorities, in my understanding, are the first people to actually put a number on that.’

He went on: ‘I think it’s also important to focus [on the fact that] we have at least been able to help some people. We know that something along the lines of 270 packages were sent to the UK, from which there were 88 deaths. ‘

‘But of course that means, and I hope, that we might have been able to stop some people, that there have been some people who’ve been able to get the help, to get the counselling they need to get them through their vulnerable time.’

The BBC presenter added: ‘We should say, the National Crime Agency, though they’re investigating these 88 deaths, they can’t confirm a direct link between the chemical and the cause of death.’

Police in Ontario have not identified the substance sold online, but said it as a white, crystalline substance, sometimes used in food processing, which can ‘reduce oxygen levels, impair breathing and can result in death.’

Related investigations are also underway in the US, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

NCA 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.’

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