A major online syndicate involving a multimillion-pound criminal network supplying controlled drugs and unauthorised medicines has been bust wide open by British authorities.
Three people have been convicted for their roles in the large-scale unlawful supply of unauthorised medicinal products online, after the investigation, led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) and known as Operation Lamborghini, uncovered an organised criminal network operating various websites to illegally supply unlicensed medicines, including Class B and Class C drugs.
The trio was convicted after a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The investigation had identified almost 2m doses of medicinal controlled drugs and other medicines linked to the criminal group. These included benzodiazepines (such as Diazepam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam and Alprazolam), Zolpidem, Zopiclone and the Class B drug codeine, alongside unauthorised versions of medicines including Sildenafil.
Prescription-only medicines Zapain and Modafinil were also supplied unlawfully.
The three were each convicted of nine counts of conspiracy to supply drugs (Class B and C), and three counts related to conspiracies to supply unauthorised medicines, and supply prescription-only medicines.
A fourth member had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to nine counts of conspiracy to supply drugs (Class B and C), and four counts related to conspiracies to supply unauthorised medicines, supply prescription only medicines not in accordance with a prescription given by a practitioner, and distributing goods bearing a false trademark.
The case was prosecuted by the CPS Serious Economic Organised and International Directorate (SEOCID). Sentencing will take place at a later date.
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