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DEA “confident” it can catch suspects in Matthew Perry’s death

The DEA says it has what it needs to bring to justice the people who supplied the ketamine which helped cause the death of ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry.

Carlo AllegriREUTERS

On October 28 of last year, Matthew Perry, known for playing Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom ‘Friends’, passed away. The actor died at the age of 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine, a recreational drug, which is also used to treat depression.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ at the time that the actor was found in a Los Angeles-area home after apparently drowning. In May, it was revealed that the actor’s death would begin a criminal investigation due to the high level of ketamine found in his system at the time of his death.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating how the actor received the ketamine and who the people were who provided it to him. According to a new update, the agency is “confident” that it will find them.

The DEA, “confident” of being able to catch the suspects in the death of Matthew Perry

According to TMZ, investigators into Matthew Perry’s death are “confident” they have what they need to arrest the people who helped the actor obtain the ketamine that contributed to his death.

Sources told the outlet that federal agents intend to charge the suspects with drug distribution resulting in death or serious bodily injury, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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According to the report, the DEA is investigating the traffickers, but could also go after doctors in case they prescribed ketamine “outside the scope of medical necessity.”

The officers involved are those who helped catch the suspects in Mac Miller's fatal drug overdose, insiders said.

Matthew Perry's cause of death

According to the toxicology report, shared by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, the actor died due to “the acute effects of ketamine.”

According to the medical examiner, the ketamine in Perry’s system caused cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. Contributing factors to the actor’s death included drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to wean addicts off opioids.

The coroner found no evidence of alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, phencyclidine (PCP) or fentanyl.

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