Fraud charges over alleged whale drug euthanasia ring

Additional charges including fraud and aiding the suicide of a 75-year-old Gold Coast man have been laid over an alleged illegal backyard euthanasia operation potentially linked to 20 deaths across Australia.

Three people were prosecuted after the death of a 43-year-old Hope Island man in April this year, when a post-mortem examination found he died of acute pentobarbitone toxicity – a veterinary drug used to kill animals.

Police alleged 53-year-old Brett Taylor from Main Beach ran a suicide business called End of Life Services, and set up a fake charity claiming to euthanise beached whales to obtain the drugs.

Veterinary euthanasia drugs were seized by police in their investigation into End of Life Services.Credit: Queensland Police Service

He was charged in September with a string of charges including two counts of aiding suicide and one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.

His father was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing dangerous drugs, and an unrelated 83-year-old woman was accused of aiding suicide and possessing and trafficking dangerous drugs.

“The alleged offender is deliberately targeting vulnerable people, taking advantage of them in their most desperate moments,” Gold Coast Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said at the time.

Brett Daniel Taylor, 53, is accused of running an end-of-life business.Credit: EOL Services

On Thursday, police confirmed Taylor had been hit with an additional nine charges, including one for aiding the suicide of a 75-year-old man at Ashmore on January 9, 2024.

He was also charged with three counts of fraud including claiming to be a qualified solicitor, supplying dangerous drugs including at public meetings in Maroochydore and Nerang, and misappropriation of donated charity funds for personal expenses.

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