Investigations reveal a disturbing increase in deaths and severe poisonings linked to counterfeit medications in the Netherlands, with the highly potent synthetic opioid nitazene identified as a primary culprit. While Dutch authorities recently reported six fatalities and four serious poisonings, a new survey indicates the actual number of cases is substantially higher, perhaps reaching at least twelve deaths and 22 serious poisonings. The inquiry, prompted by the NOS, highlights the extreme danger of obtaining prescription drugs from unregulated online sources such as Slaappillen.net and Funcaps.
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Sander Zurhake
Health Care Reporter
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Bas de Vries
Research Reporter
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Sander Zurhake
Health Care Reporter
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Bas de Vries
Research Reporter
Far more people have been harmed by counterfeit medications than previously known, according to an investigation by Erasmus MC conducted at the request of the NOS.
The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) recently reported six deaths and four serious poisonings linked to counterfeit drugs. But a survey of the Dutch Poison Information Centre, the Trimbos Institute, the NFI, and hospitals that can test for dangerous substances in counterfeit products reveals at least seven other suspicious deaths. There are strong suspicions in an eighth case, but certainty is lacking.
In addition to these twelve deaths, there are at least 22 serious poisonings where many people narrowly survived because they were taken to the hospital in time, sometimes in a coma. According to Erasmus MC, these numbers are likely an underestimate, with the actual figures being higher. The growing number of cases underscores the dangers of obtaining prescription medication from unregulated sources.
Main Suspects Still at Large
Several victims ingested fake oxycodone, supplied by the webshop Slaappillen.net. Two men involved with the site are scheduled to appear in court Monday for the first time. Police tracked them down following the death of 44-year-old Sharon from Voorburg.
It appears the two men played a minor role. They are currently only charged with trafficking illegal substances; proving death by negligence has not yet been possible.
In the US, nitazenes have been a major problem for some time, but we hoped it would remain limited to this incident in the Netherlands.
The National Public Prosecution Office is investigating the main perpetrators, who appear to still be active. Shortly before Slaappillen.net went offline in late November, customers received an email asking them to place further orders through another website.
A Longstanding Problem in the US
The primary culprit in the deaths and poisonings is nitazenes, a synthetic opioid so potent that there is a high risk of overdose. Nitazenes are therefore not permitted in legitimate medications. However, it is not uncommon for counterfeit pills containing the dangerous nitazenes to be sold by webshops as oxycodone, which is available with a prescription.
“We first detected nitazenes in the blood of someone who likely died from it in October 2024,” says Corine Bethlehem, hospital pharmacist and toxicologist at Erasmus MC. “In the US, nitazenes have been a major problem for some time, but we hoped it would remain limited to this incident in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, and the number of victims has increased significantly since then.”
Buying products outside of a pharmacy from webshops like Funcaps or Slaappillen.net is life-threatening, Bethlehem warns. “You never know what’s actually in those pills.”
