A British citizen has been convicted in the Southern District of Georgia for his involvement in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Navy submariners in 2017. Paul Anthony Nicholls, 47, was found guilty after a four-day jury trial of conspiring to import and distribute fentanyl analogues and other controlled substances through the dark web marketplace known as “Dream Market.” He now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, with a potential maximum of life imprisonment.
Nicholls operated under the organization name “Canada1” on Dream Market, offering synthetic opioids such as U-47700 and Methoxy acetyl fentanyl for sale globally from Vancouver, British Columbia. According to court documents and testimony, investigators identified Nicholls through surveillance and intercepted more than 40 packages marked with a shell company logo—“East Van ECO Tours”—which were found to contain dangerous fentanyl analogues in both nasal spray and powder forms.
Authorities executed search warrants at several locations connected to Nicholls and his conspirator. They discovered fentanyl analogues valued at $24 million, which experts testified could have caused up to 375,000 fatalities. Receipts found at the scene included tracking numbers for thousands of shipments worldwide; among them were packages delivered to Kingsland, Georgia. After receiving these packages in October 2017, Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed their contents and died from opioid overdoses days apart.
U.S. Attorney Meg Heap commented: “This conviction was achieved through the hard work and cooperation of our law enforcement officers and Canadian law enforcement. Two of our navy sailors died because of Nicholl’s distribution of lethal drugs. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm people in our communities.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios from the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office stated: “This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans. No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the FDA will work with our law enforcement partners to find them and bring them to justice.”
Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge for the United States Postal Inspection Service Miami Division added: “The overdose deaths associated with this investigation are a tragic reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics being shipped by transnational criminal organizations. The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to work with our state, local and international partners in the pursuit of those who traffic in poison.”
Special Agent in Charge Norman Dominesey from NCIS Southeast Field Office remarked: “Those who disregard the highly toxic nature of fentanyl by heartlessly distributing it for personal gain must be held accountable. NCIS and our partners are committed to aggressively investigating any individual or entity complicit in illicit distribution of substances that would threaten national security, undermine warfighter readiness, and endanger Department of the Navy communities.”
Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge for DEA Atlanta Field Division said: “Drug traffickers who operate on the dark web often believe their crimes are detached from real-world consequences. This conviction proves that couldn’t be further from the truth. The defendant’s role in this international conspiracy contributed to the deaths of two Navy submariners, an outcome that underscores the deadly reach of these criminal networks. DEA will continue working with our state and local partners in pursuing those who endanger lives for profit.”
GBI Director Chris Hosey commented: “This conviction sends a clear message that those who use the dark web to traffic deadly drugs will be held accountable, no matter where they operate,” adding that coordinated efforts will persist against those profiting from synthetic opioids.
Chief Rick M. Evans also noted: “Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners… Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Nicholls’ co-conspirator has not yet been tried; indictments are allegations until proven otherwise.
The case involved multiple agencies including U.S., Canadian federal authorities, local police departments from both countries as well as Health Canada providing support throughout investigation and prosecution.
