Poisoned: Killer in the Post begins Wednesday, July 9, at 9 PM on Channel 4, launching a two-part investigation into the death of a young man who consumed poison purchased online. Journalist James Beal leads the inquiry, tracing the package back to a network operating in plain sight.
What starts as a single case quickly expands. Beal identifies a string of similar deaths around the world, all linked by the same poison, the same source, and the same online infrastructure. The film follows his undercover efforts to expose the marketplace distributing these lethal substances and the forums pushing them toward vulnerable users.
As the search deepens, Beal meets families who have lost children and siblings in similar circumstances. Their stories mirror each other. A package arrives. A life is lost. A website remains open. The documentary also tracks the legal response, with one suspect allegedly tied to over 1,200 poison shipments and 97 deaths in the UK.
The series avoids voyeurism, sticking to the facts and showing how a loophole in global regulation has allowed this trade to thrive. It also highlights the difficulty of enforcement when the seller, buyer and platform are rarely in the same country.
Part 2 airs Thursday, July 10. Both episodes will stream on Channel 4 after the premiere.
