Crime Gang Busted for Peddling £3.7m of Illegal Drugs Online
Three crooks from a criminal gang have been locked up at Stoke Crown Court for selling over three million doses of prescription and unlicensed medicines. The haul included controlled drugs worth a whopping £3.7 million.
Three-Year Investigation Cracks Online Drug Ring
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s Criminal Enforcement Unit spent three years digging into the operation. From August 2013 to December 2015, Grant Newton (49), Darrell Baggley (56), and Callum Baggley (27) flogged huge amounts of codeine, Tramadol, Diazepam, Zolpidem, and erectile dysfunction meds across three websites.
Public tip-offs in 2015 about missing orders and concerning purchases kick-started the probe. The MHRA, backed by police, raided and seized digital devices in 2016, uncovering evidence showing more than 3.2 million doses had been sold illegally.
Gang Roles Revealed – Big Boss and His Crew Sentenced
Court heard Newton headed the UK side of the global crime group. Darrell Baggley ran the warehouse and deliveries, while his son Callum managed the cash flow through front company bank accounts.
- Newton and Darrell Baggley each got 28 months behind bars for multiple counts, including supplying Class B and C drugs and selling unlicensed medicines.
- Callum Baggley escaped prison but got 12 months suspended, plus 200 hours community service for money laundering offences.
Officials Warn of Dangerous Risks of Illegal Medicines
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement, said: “Criminals dealing in illegal medicines not only break the law but recklessly endanger public health. Powerful drugs like these need medical supervision. This gang ran a major global operation, now shut down thanks to our investigation.”
“We’ll keep fighting to protect patients by stopping illegal medicine sales and bringing offenders to justice.”
Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor, CPS, added: “This gang risked public safety by selling controlled drugs unlawfully. Prescription medicines exist for a reason—they must be taken under doctor’s supervision. We’ll keep working with the MHRA to prosecute criminals profiting off vulnerable people.”
