A troubled teen committed suicide after buying deadly elephant tranquilizers 1,000 times stronger than morphine on the dark web, an inquest in Britain has heard.
Abu Ali, 19, of West Sussex, had elephant tranquilizers delivered to his home in August after ordering them online on the “Dark Web”.
Emergency workers responding to a call after his death on August 29 had to wear hazmat suits in to protect themselves. Ali had in fact left instructions prior to his death for responders to take precautions in retrieving his body.
Emergency services workers determined that the tranquilizers were so potent that even touching them can be enough to kill you as they absorb through the skin.
Since Ail’s death, police investigating the suicide determined that the teenager bought the drugs through “dark web” using Bitcoins. The “dark web” is a term used for parts of the Internet unlisted by Google and other search engines.
On the dark web, users host content that otherwise violates the law, and conduct business transactions involving drugs, child pornography, illegal firearms, and even criminal services like professional hits.
“Police made significant inquiries into how he came across this drug which is not very easily available,” said assistant corner Christopher Wilkinson in court (via The Sun). “All suggestions are that he bought it on the dark web, which in itself is concerning to me. Its potency is 1,000 times more strong than morphine and it can be absorbed through the skin – that was why they had to proceed on the basis that it was a hazardous material.”
The drug is so strong that a mere 10mg of it can be enough to sedate an adult elephant.
Police determined that Abu Ali’s death was a suicide based on a note he left on Facebook prior to taking the tranquilizer. He had given specific details about the drug he used to protect others who would inevitably find his body.
“He had made it absolutely clear to everyone that is what he had used in order to protect everyone else,” said Wilkinson. “Abu was caring and considerate to the end.”
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.
