BBC Successfully Tracks Down Individual Selling Poison Linked to Suicide Forum

Article Title: BBC Unmasks Ukrainian Toxic Substance Dealer

Authors: Angus Crawford and Tony Smith for BBC News

Time Stamp: 1 hour ago

In a groundbreaking investigation, the BBC has identified a Ukrainian individual, Leonid Zakutenko, who peddles a lethally toxic substance linked to a shocking 130 deaths in the UK.

Zakutenko promotes his nefarious activities through a website advocating suicide. He confessed to an undercover reporter that he typically dispatches about five packages a week to the UK. He is linked to distributing the same substance as Kenneth Law, a Canadian caught last year in the act, presently going through the charges of 14 counts of homicide.

Despite strong evidence suggesting otherwise, when approached by the BBC, Zakutenko flatly declined all allegations. Seeking him at his residence in Kyiv, he refuted any association with the sale of the deadly chemical, which has not been openly disclosed by the BBC. Nonetheless, further investigations reveal his involvement in the trade for years.

The UK legally permits the sale of this fatal substance, but exclusively to entities employing it for legitimate applications. Suppliers are obligated to conduct preliminary checks on the prospective use of the substance before any transaction occurs. Even small quantities can culminate in the tragic loss of life.

The distressed family of twins Linda and Sarah, whose lives were claimed by the poison Zakutenko provided, dubbed him an ‘odious and malevolent human being.’ Their sister, Helen Kite, added that Linda gained effortless access to the ‘death kit’ for a few pounds after learning about the seller on a popular suicide forum.

A distressing fact is that Zakutenko’s perilous chemical is readily discussed on the same online forums Linda used. Community members generously share tips on procuring and subsequently using it.

Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, a distinguished expert in vascular pharmacology from Queen Mary University of London, suggests the chemical might be linked to over 130 UK deaths since 2019. She has conducted detailed analyses on blood and other samples sent to her by pathologists and police across the UK. Prof. Ahluwalia found extensive traces of the chemical in 71% of the tests, estimating that at least 133 people could have lost their lives consuming it.

Trailed to his humble apartment in a Soviet-era tower block in Kyiv, Zakutenko was approached near his local post office trying to send more packages. But when confronted about his illicit actions, he dismissed it as a “lie”.

With the continually growing death toll, David Parfett, who lost his son Tom to the chemical sold by Kenneth Law, is now working diligently to shut down suicide forums and cease sellers like Zakutenko’s operations.

Mr. Parfett and Ms. Kite are collectively calling for stringent measures to blockade access to the forum that led their loved ones, Tom and Linda, to the lethal chemical.

The UK government assures that last year’s Online Safety Act will assist in curbing the accessibility to such forums, thus reducing the spread of such tragic incidents.