Police say 12 additional charges have been laid against an Ontario man accused of selling a deadly substance online to those at risk of self-harm.
York Regional Police Insp. Simon James told reporters on Tuesday that Kenneth Law has now been charged with a total of 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide within the province of Ontario.
James alleges Law operated several websites selling sodium nitrite — a substance which can be lethal in large doses.
Sodium nitrite is a white, crystalline substance used as a food additive and typically found in processed meats. Police said intentional consumption of excessive amounts of this substance can reduce oxygen levels, impair breathing and result in death.
Law, a 57-year-old man from Mississauga, Ont., is already charged with two counts counselling or aiding suicide in May from Peel Region following an initial investigation into a sudden death.
The new charges are from the following regions: four in Toronto, one more in Peel Region, three in York Region, one in Durham Region, one in London, Ont., one in Thunder Bay and one in Waterloo Region.
James said it is believed Law was operating the websites as of approximately late 2020.
He would not elaborate on identifying the victims involved due to the active investigation but said the victims in Ontario were both male and female and between the ages of 16 and 36 years old.
Police have previously said Law is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries. Authorities in the U.K., United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand also have launched investigations.
As the investigation into Law spread globally, Britain’s National Crime Agency said it has identified 232 people in the U.K. who bought products from the websites in the two years until April. The agency said 88 of those had died.
Investigators in Ontario have shared information on Law to police forces across the world but James could not say exactly how many victims there may be or exactly how many charges have been laid against Law outside of Ontario.
James said Law was believed to be associated with additional companies that were registered under the following names: Imtime Cuisine, AmbuCA, Academic/ACademic, Escape Mode/escMode and ICemac.
James encouraged anyone who has bought from these companies or knows someone who has to contact police.
In May 2023, a joint task force formed with 11 police agencies across Ontario. These include Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police, Toronto Police, the Durham Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, London police, Waterloo police, Windsor police, Ottawa police, Thunder Bay police and Barrie police.
— With files from The Canadian Press
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, support is available 24/7 by calling Talk Suicide Canada (1-833-456-4566) or, for residents of Quebec, 1 866 APPELLE (1-866-277-3553). The U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. In the U.K., the Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or http://www.samaritans.org.