this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2023
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[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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, 88 of whom had died.

"at this early stage there are no confirmed links between the items purchased from the websites and cause of death in any of these cases."

I mean, that's a lot of people to have died by coincidence in under two years!

[–] Yendor@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I mean, the product is being sold as a way to commit suicide, so it’s hardly surprising that many of the people who bought it are now dead.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wait. What?? That's wild.

Is it possible that this was purchased with the intention of using it as a sports supplement, but mistakenly the wrong "nitrate" was purchased? Nitric Oxide is used in sports, sodium nitrite is often used for curing meat!

But then again, if this stuff is being used for suicide, then I'm sure it's easy to know whether those 88 dead people are linked.

[–] Yendor@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, it’s not a mistake.

Details are withheld in the news articles to avoid promoting suicide, but this link gives some useful context: https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/toronto/2023/5/4/1_6384721.html

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago

That makes my stomach turn.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I do recall that amazon had a kit on their site using the same chemical specifically targeted to kids ....

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/09/1127686507/amazon-suicide-teenagers-poison

[–] Saraphim@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I learned this not too long ago, that too much can legit kill you. I saw a post on that other stupid site about a dude who stopped his girlfriend from doing some tik tok challenge about it.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago

I knew a couple of people who bought a pair of "exit bags" from a Canadian website.

[–] PaupersSerenade@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Oh wow, I believe this is referencing the same site as a video essay I recently watched. As someone who's struggled with ideation I've limited the research I've done, but this sounds like an awful trend. I don't believe you need Tor to access this site, but I could be wrong as reporting states vague

[–] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 3 points 1 year ago

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[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

You do not need tor. I found it with only a little digging.

[–] reddithalation@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago

yeah they sound the same.

[–] voluble@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Was accidentally poisoned with sodium nitrite once. Can't imagine it would be a pleasant way to go.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


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, 88 of whom had died.

The agency said it was investigating whether any crimes had been committed in the U.K., but that "at this early stage there are no confirmed links between the items purchased from the websites and cause of death in any of these cases."

They are being supported by specially trained officers from police forces," said National Crime Agency Deputy Director Craig Turner.

The probe is part of international inquiries sparked by the arrest of Canadian Kenneth Law, who has been charged with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide.

Law is accused of using a series of websites to market and sell sodium nitrite, a substance commonly used to cure meats that can be deadly if ingested.

Authorities in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand also have launched investigations.


The original article contains 242 words, the summary contains 160 words. Saved 34%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] heartlessevil@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The article isn't really clear about what this mineral was purchased and marketed for. Was it curing meat specifically? In which case, how does this company's mineral differ from any other? Wouldn't it be the fault of the people mis handling it? What made this particular company's mineral especially dangerous?

[–] idkwhatimdoing@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The article says in the first sentence that the website was selling toxic compounds to people at risk of self harm, and explains after that "The probe is part of international inquiries sparked by the arrest of Canadian Kenneth Law, who has been charged with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide."

[–] heartlessevil@lemmy.one 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Huh. Guess I should actually read these things. Ty.

[–] nicktron@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

It’s a good habit to get into.