Three suspects linked to deaths involving counterfeit medicines
Police link counterfeit oxycodone pills to three deaths, but independent confirmation is still lacking.
Follow-up to: Thirty websites selling illegal medicines taken offline Thursday, 22 October 2026, 13:03
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Police report that three suspects have been arrested in an investigation into counterfeit medicines linked to the deaths of three people. The pills are said to have looked like oxycodone but to have contained nitazenes.
The new information follows an earlier investigation in which thirty online shops selling illegal medicines and hard drugs were taken offline. According to the police, three suspects were arrested in that investigation, and the pills are now being linked to three deaths.
Nitazenes are highly potent synthetic opioids. The Public Prosecution Service previously warned about counterfeit oxycodone in which nitazenes had been found. That report concerned a different case and does not independently confirm the new figures.
The available new source provides no full information about the identities of the suspects, the places of the arrests or the precise causes of death. It therefore cannot be established which deaths are legally or forensically linked to the pills under investigation.
The police are investigating the trade in and origins of the pills. A link between substances found and a death must be established in each case through forensic and judicial investigation. The arrested individuals are suspects, not convicted persons.
As no current, publicly accessible police or Public Prosecution Service publication about this new development could be found, this article remains limited to what the available report says. The earlier closure of online shops and the new suspicion are therefore not presented as one proven body of facts.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- A current report refers to three arrests and three deaths that are allegedly linked to counterfeit medicines.
- The Public Prosecution Service previously warned about counterfeit oxycodone containing nitazenes.
- The suspects have not been convicted and the new deaths have not been independently confirmed.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that the illegal online medicines market primarily affects people who depend on healthcare and lack reliable access to medicines, and calls for better prevention and public healthcare.
Values Public health, protection of vulnerable groups and harm reduction.
Consequences Fears that criminal enforcement alone will drive demand underground and wants warnings, addiction care and accessible medical assistance alongside investigations.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises a combination of investigations, oversight of online sales and rapid public warnings, with evidence that must be carefully established on a case-by-case basis.
Values Proportionality, practicality and consumer protection.
Consequences Wants to prevent dangerous pills from circulating, while also ensuring that unconfirmed links between suspects and deaths are not presented as facts.
Right
Arguments Emphasises a tough approach to organised trafficking, the rapid closure of online shops and heavy penalties for parties knowingly selling counterfeit opioids.
Values Public order, responsibility and deterrence.
Consequences Fears that insufficient enforcement will allow the illegal market to grow and wants greater powers and international cooperation for law-enforcement agencies.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text limits the new claims to what one current report says and does not present the link with deaths as proven. The context concerning nitazenes was checked against an older Public Prosecution Service report.
- uncertain Three suspects have been arrested in the investigation. — Mentioned in the supplied current source, but not confirmed by a current police or Public Prosecution Service publication. source
- uncertain The pills looked like oxycodone but contained nitazenes. — Mentioned in the current source; an older Public Prosecution Service report does confirm that counterfeit oxycodone containing nitazenes was found in a different case. source
- confirmed Nitazenes are highly potent synthetic opioids. — The Public Prosecution Service describes nitazenes as very strong painkillers that are difficult to dose and can lead to an overdose. source
- uncertain The three deaths have been linked to the pills. — Mentioned only in the current supplied source; no public forensic confirmation was found. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The police link counterfeit oxycodone pills to three deaths.Now: The available report links counterfeit oxycodone pills to three deaths; independent confirmation is still lacking. (The current claim could not be confirmed by a current official source.)
Editor's note
The new report mentions three suspects and three deaths, but no current independent police or Public Prosecution Service source could be found. The status is therefore insufficient_sources; the older Public Prosecution Service source supports only the general context of nitazenes in counterfeit oxycodone.Sources
- Arrestaties om dodelijke nep-pillen: webshops offline gehaald — NL Vandaag
- OM waarschuwt voor online nepapothekers — Openbaar Ministerie
The story so far
- Thursday, 22 October 2026, 13:03 Thirty websites selling illegal medicines taken offline
- Thursday, 22 October 2026, 18:32 Three suspects linked to deaths involving counterfeit medicines (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „nepmedicijnen nitazenen”
- AD — „nepmedicijnen nitazenen”
- de Volkskrant — „nepmedicijnen nitazenen”