A Romanian man, his mother and his aunt have been arrested in Austria in a case involving the trafficking of fentanyl patches

A 38-year-old Romanian man, his 54-year-old mother and his 62-year-old aunt have been arrested in Austria, along with another man, in a case involving the illegal sale of fentanyl patches. The investigation was launched after a 29-year-old man from Linz died of an overdose in July 2026.

According to Kronen Zeitung, police traced the route taken by the patches used as drugs. They were allegedly obtained using medical prescriptions and subsequently sold outside the legal distribution system for profit.

The investigation led to the identification of the four suspects, who are accused of having sold approximately 1,000 fentanyl patches over time. Authorities are trying to determine how the substances were obtained and distributed, as well as each person’s role.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain, including in oncology. When administered improperly, it can slow or stop breathing and cause a fatal overdose.