A British citizen has been convicted in the Southern District of Georgia for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Navy submariners in 2017. Paul Anthony Nicholls, 47, from Great Britain, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances resulting in death after a four-day jury trial.
Nicholls faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood. There is no parole available under the federal system.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Meg Heap.
According to court documents and testimony, Nicholls operated a drug trafficking organization known as “Canada1” on the now-defunct dark web marketplace “Dream Market.” The group advertised synthetic opioids such as U-47700 and Methoxy acetyl fentanyl for global shipment from Vancouver, British Columbia. Investigators used surveillance techniques to identify Nicholls regularly handling packages marked with a shell company logo, “East Van ECO Tours,” which were shipped via Canada Post.
Authorities intercepted over 40 packages bearing these markings, all containing fentanyl analogues in nasal spray and powder forms. Search warrants executed at various locations linked to Nicholls uncovered large quantities of these substances, valued at $24 million—enough to potentially cause 375,000 fatalities.
Receipts found during the investigation showed thousands of packages sent worldwide by the conspirators. Among them were tracking numbers for two packages delivered to Kingsland, Georgia, in October 2017. After receiving these shipments, Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed their contents and died from opioid overdoses within days.
"This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. "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 at the United States Postal Inspection Service Miami Division stated: “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 commented: “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 at DEA Atlanta Field Division added: “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.”
GBI Director Chris Hosey said: “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... The deaths of these two U.S. Navy submariners in this case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of synthetic opioids and fentanyl.”
Chief Rick M. Evans emphasized collaboration: “Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners... By working together, we are better equipped to target those who distribute and possess illegal drugs... Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Nicholls’ alleged co-conspirator has not yet been tried; indictments are pending presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Inspection Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; Customs and Border Protection; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Canada Post; Canadian Border Services Agency; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Kingsland (GA) Police Department; Surrey (Canada) Police Department; Health Canada; and Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office provided support during trial proceedings.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Timothy P. Dean along with former Assistant United States Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
