Two Oregon men charged in fatal Oxycontin overdose case

Two US men are facing charges in connection with the death of a man who ingested a counterfeit OxyContin tablets thought to be laced with fentanyl.

Oregon men Alfred Darrell Warren (42) and Antonio Irving Benjamin (44) were arrested earlier this month on suspicion of of supplying the pills that hospitalised and caused the death of 24-year-old Gino Miller.

During the arrest officers from Portland Police Bureau uncovered 2,000 OxyContin pills believed to be counterfeit, four firearms and around $10,000 in cash. On subsequent investigation the PPB has suggested the pills were sourced from China.

"This investigation is continuing and officers anticipate making additional arrests," said the PPB in a statement. "Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the US Attorney's Office for possible federal prosecution."

This was the 30th drug overdose death investigated by the PPB so far this year, the same number of deaths from traffic accidents, and ties in with an epidemic of injuries and deaths linked to counterfeit opioid medicines.