Three people have been arrested after police busted an alleged euthanasia drug trafficking ring while investigating a man’s suicide.
Queensland Police began investigating after the Coroner revealed the cause of death for a 43-year-old man on Hope Island, on the Gold Coast, on April 11.
Toxicology results found he had died from pentobarbitone, also known as pentobarbital – a Schedule 2 drug used by vets to euthanise animals.
Detectives spent the following months investigating the man’s health, care and treatment in the time before his death, before three people were arrested on Monday.
A 53-year-old man, accused of supplying the pentobarbitone, was charged with two counts of aiding suicide and one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.
He is due to reappear at Southport Magistrates Court on 18 September.
An 81-year-old woman was charged with one count each of aiding suicide, trafficking dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs and sale of potential harmful things.
Hellbound and Down 