Montreal police arrest two people in connection with 15-year-old’s opioid overdose

By The Canadian Press on September 18, 2024.

Mathis Boivin is shown in a handout photo. Montreal police have arrested two people on drug charges following an investigation into the death of Mathis Boivin, a 15-year-old boy who died from a drug overdose last December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Christian Boivin **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Montreal police have arrested two people on drug charges following an investigation into the death of a 15-year-old boy from a synthetic opioid overdose last December.

Laxshan Mylvaganam, 24, and a 17-year-old whose identity is protected have been charged with possession and trafficking of narcotics.

Police say they seized several hundred counterfeit pills containing dangerous synthetic opioids during searches of three homes and a vehicle.

Fifteen-year-old Mathis Boivin from Montreal died in December 2023 after consuming a pill containing nitazene, a synthetic opioid stronger than fentanyl.

His death made headlines in Quebec and his father, Christian Boivin, has spoken widely about his son to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic.

Mylvaganam was arraigned in Montreal today, while the minor will appear at a later date in youth court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.