A British man who sold toxic chemicals through a website has pleaded guilty to assisting suicides across multiple countries. Kenneth Law, 57, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, admitting 14 counts of encouraging or assisting suicide. The charges relate to deaths in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Law operated an online business that marketed and supplied sodium nitrite, a substance commonly used in suicides. Investigators identified 88 packages sent to individuals in the UK, with 14 deaths linked directly to his products. The Crown Prosecution Service described his operation as a “commercial suicide service” that profited from vulnerable customers.
Senior prosecuting lawyer Alexander Carden said Law “deliberately marketed his products to people at risk of suicide, providing them with the means and instructions to take their own lives.” The court heard that Law’s website included detailed instructions on the use of the chemical and offered customer support to those seeking to end their lives.
Law was arrested in May 2023 following a joint investigation by the National Crime Agency and Canadian authorities. He had been selling sodium nitrite since 2020, generating significant income. The case has raised concerns about the regulation of online sales of lethal substances and the role of digital platforms in facilitating harm.
Families of the victims expressed relief at the guilty plea, though they noted that legal proceedings do not ease their grief. One family member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they hoped the case would lead to stronger oversight of online marketplaces.
The judge adjourned sentencing for reports, warning that a substantial custodial sentence was likely. Law is expected to be sentenced next month.
This case underscores the challenges of policing the dark internet and calls for international cooperation to prevent similar operations. The NCA has urged online platforms to intensify efforts to identify and remove listings that offer lethal substances.
