Man charged in contaminated heroin investigation

A man has been charged with possessing cocaine and opiates in an investigation into a contaminated batch of heroin.

The charge follows the death of a 62-year-old man at his home in Leyland Road, Southport, while a further two non-fatal overdoses were thought to have resulted from the same batch since 13 April.

Tests confirmed the batch contained the high-strength synthetic opioid etonitazene - part of the nitazene group of drugs linked to a spate of deaths across the country in recent years.

Merseyside Police said Carl Gardiner, 51, of Leyland Road in Southport, was charged with three counts of possessing heroin, cocaine and etonitazene.

He was due to appear at Wirral Magistrate's Court later.

It comes after a 51-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were held on suspicion of manslaughter on Tuesday, and later released on bail.

As well as the death and overdoses, police said two other people reported smoking what they thought was heroin only to experience "immediate and intense sedation".

The force said: "Nitazenes are significantly more potent than heroin or morphine.

"Even a very small amount can cause rapid and life-threatening respiratory depression – meaning breathing can slow or stop with very little warning."

The police investigation was continuing and anyone with information has been urged to come forward.

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