UK Gang Jailed for Peddling £3.7M of Illegal Prescription Drugs
Three members of a criminal gang were locked up at Stoke Crown Court on 13 March 2023. They pleaded guilty to illegally selling over 3 million doses of prescription-only and unlicensed medicines, including controlled drugs, worth a staggering £3.7 million.
Three-Year MHRA Probe Exposes Massive Medicine Scam
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) spearheaded a three-year investigation that uncovered the organised crime ring’s activities between August 2013 and December 2015. The gang distributed drugs such as codeine, Tramadol, Diazepam, Zolpidem, and erectile dysfunction medications through three separate websites.
Complaints from the public in 2015 about missing orders and concerns over relatives buying from these sites triggered an MHRA crackdown. Supported by police, they raided the gang in 2016, seizing digital evidence that revealed the illegal supply of more than 3.2 million doses.
Kingpin and Crew Face Heavy Jail Time
- Grant Newton, 49, led the UK branch of the global gang.
- Darrell Baggley, 56, ran the warehouse and distribution.
- Callum Baggley, 27, managed company bank accounts and operations.
Newton and Darrell Baggley got 28 months each for supplying Class B and C drugs, selling prescription-only and unauthorised medicines, and laundering criminal property. Callum bagged a 12-month suspended sentence and 200 hours unpaid work for his role in facilitating criminal gains.
Officials Warn Against Fake Medicines
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement, said:
“Criminals trading in medicines illegally aren’t just breaking the law—they’re putting lives at risk. Powerful drugs taken without proper medical guidance can cause serious harm. This major case shut down a UK arm of a global criminal network selling these dangerous products.”
“Our work continues to protect public health by stopping illegal medicine trade and hitting offenders hard.”
Ben Reid, CPS Specialist Prosecutor, added:
“These criminals put the public’s health in serious jeopardy by selling controlled and prescription drugs outside the law. Medicines are strictly regulated for a reason—patients must only take them under medical supervision. We’re committed to working with the MHRA to bring such dangerous offenders to justice.”
