how a pill sold online led to 58 suspected deaths
Den Haag, donderdag, 5 februari 2026.
the dutch public prosecution service is investigating 58 deaths linked to medicines from funcaps. the site sold powerful sedatives without a license. many victims were young adults struggling with mental health. internal messages show staff mocked customer deaths. one message said “another dead one” followed by crying and laughing emojis. the founders earned 42 million euros in five years. they allegedly hid negative reviews and kept selling despite knowing the dangers. some products cost just eighty cents per pill. blood tests are now being redone to confirm if the drug bromazolam caused the deaths. the suspects showed little remorse according to prosecutors.
investigation expands to 58 suspected deaths
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) is currently investigating 58 deaths potentially linked to medications ordered through the online platform Funcaps [nu.nl]. This marks an increase from the previously reported 49 fatalities, following additional scrutiny of nine new cases [RTL Nieuws]. The individuals who died reportedly purchased powerful sedatives such as bromazolam and other designerdrugs without medical supervision. Most victims were young adults experiencing psychological distress or mental health struggles [NU.nl]. The total number of examined cases stands at 68, with ten showing no connection to Funcaps-supplied substances [RTL Nieuws].
profit-driven operation under illegal trade charges
Two men, Jord van W. (31) from Ulestraten and Stefan P. (30) from Valkenburg, are accused of running Funcaps and profiting from the illegal sale of prescription-strength medications [NU.nl]. Their business operated without a license starting in July 2020 and generated approximately €42 million in revenue over five years [NU.nl]. They allegedly distributed highly addictive substances including bromazolam—a designerbenzo—and ketamine, often marketed as research chemicals not intended for human consumption to circumvent regulations [Parool]. Despite warnings and regulatory changes under the Opiumwet effective July 1, 2025, sales continued until authorities intervened [AVROTROS].
internal communications reveal disregard for harm
Prosecutors cite internal messaging among Funcaps staff that demonstrates indifference toward consumer deaths [NOS]. One employee wrote “Weer een dooje”—“Another dead one”—followed by both a crying and laughing emoji [NOS]. Another message stated, “Boeit niemand dat die dood is,” meaning “Nobody cares that he’s dead” [AD.nl]. When informed about Belgium initiating legal action, one suspect replied, “Yes f***ing Belgians yes they brought us a nice chunk of change, and not that many deaths either” [NOS]. Such exchanges suggest awareness of risks and imply fatalities were considered acceptable losses within their business model [Parool]. The company also allegedly removed negative customer reviews in exchange for free pills [AD.nl].
relatives speak out against preventable tragedies
Lydia Bottenburg lost her son Mathias (26) after he ingested a lethal dose of a designerbenzo obtained via Funcaps [AVROTROS]. He was found walking hallucinating across a highway before being struck by vehicles [AVROTROS]. She recalls his life as joyful and purposeful—he worked supporting people with disabilities and ran construction projects in Africa [AVROTROS]. Angry at how easily dangerous drugs reached consumers, she now speaks publicly to warn youth about the risks [AVROTROS]. “They have no conscience,” she said of the sellers, adding that profit blinded them to suffering [AVROTROS]. Her advocacy includes school presentations using raw footage to convey real consequences [AVROTROS].
scientific review underway to confirm causal links
While 58 deaths are under active investigation, forensic confirmation remains ongoing [Parool]. Blood samples from 35 of the deceased are being re-examined to verify whether toxic levels of bromazolam directly contributed to death [Parool]. The drug, typically sold in green 3mg tablets priced at just 80 cents apiece, is significantly stronger than regulated benzodiazepines and poses severe overdose risks [AD.nl]. Even at lower doses, it may cause psychosis, memory loss, and addiction [Parool]. Officials stress these weren’t recreational users seeking fun but vulnerable individuals coping with anxiety and insomnia who became dependent [NU.nl]. Regulatory oversight failed despite earlier interventions in Belgium [HLN].
calculating scope and impact of the Funcaps case
The rise in investigated deaths from 49 to 58 represents an increase of 18.367% [RTL Nieuws]. Of the 68 total cases reviewed, 58 showed potential connections to Funcaps products, equalling 85.294% of incidents where a plausible link exists [NU.nl]. The average annual turnover derived from illegal sales was roughly 8.400 million, amounting to eight million four hundred thousand euros per year [NU.nl]. With each bromazolam tablet costing around 80 cents yet carrying extreme risk, the economic model prioritized volume over safety [AD.nl]. Authorities continue efforts to trace distribution networks beyond the Netherlands [HLN].