A dangerous fascination on the dark web, and an illicit package from China which left a young man dead

Harry Durose had been through some terrible times. His young life had been blighted by drugs and mental health problems, but he was beginning to talk about his future.

He'd spent two lengthy periods in hospital after being sectioned under the Mental Health act but, by March this year, he had been placed in supported accommodation in Hyde, run by not-for-profit organisation Creative Support. His prescribed medication was kept under lock and key so it could be taken under supervision.

But right under the noses of staff there, a package for him came through the post.

Harry thought it was a powerful illicit version of the tranquiliser Xanax. He had no idea the peach-coloured powder inside also contained nitazenes, an illegal and deadly synthetic opioid which has been linked to dozens of deaths across the UK.

It is said to be a thousand times more potent than morphine. He took it and died right there in his bedroom.. He was just 21.

Yesterday (December 18) an inquest into his death revealed the shocking details of how easily he had obtained this new drug, sourcing it on the dark web, messaging the seller via Russia-based communications platform Telegram, paying for it with bitcoin and finally importing it direct to accommodation from an unknown lab in China.

He believed he was purchasing the tranquiliser alprazolam, often referred to by the trade name Xanax, but blood tests following his death showed the presence of nitazenes, an illegal and deadly synthetic opioid which has been linked to dozens of deaths across the UK.

Police searched his room and found a package and two clear plastic bags containing a 'peachy-coloured powder' which tests revealed contained nitazenes, Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter told the inquest at