Police lay 12 new charges against Mississauga, Ont., man accused of selling deadly substance
CBC
WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
Police have laid a dozen new charges against a Mississauga, Ont., man accused of selling a lethal substance to people at risk of self-harm.
Peel Regional Police say a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving several police services from across the province resulted in all the new charges against Kenneth Law for allegedly counselling and aiding suicide.
Investigators say the new charges are linked to four deaths in Toronto, three in York Region, one in Durham Region, one in London, Ont., one in Thunder Bay, one in Waterloo, and an additional death in Peel Region.
Law has previously been charged by Peel police with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide.
York Regional Police Insp. Simon James says the victims are from across the province and range in age from 16 to 36.
Police say they believe over 1,200 packages linked to Law were sent to over 40 countries.
Tuesday's update comes after British police revealed last week they are investigating the deaths of 88 people in the U.K. who allegedly bought products from Canadian-based websites linked to Law.
WATCH | U.K. police investigating deaths of 88 people:
That British probe is part of inquiries triggered by Law's arrest earlier this year.
Law is accused of using several websites to market and sell sodium nitrite — a substance commonly used to cure meats that can be deadly if ingested.
Several police forces in Canada have said they are reviewing sudden deaths in their regions in light of the allegations against Law.
Authorities in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand also have launched investigations.
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