In a significant victory against illegal drug operations on the dark web, three men have been sentenced to a combined total of 24 years in prison following the discovery of a £2 million counterfeit drug supply operation. The investigation, led by the Metropolitan Police’s Cyber Crime Unit, uncovered a complex web of pharmaceutical drug trafficking that spanned international boundaries.
The case began when intelligence was received from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States, indicating that the individuals in question were involved in the online sale of pharmaceutical drugs. Allen Valentine, his son Roshan Valentine, and their childhood friend Krunal Patel were found to be producing and selling Benzodiazepines, a type of sedative classified as a Class C drug. Their illicit activities yielded at least £2 million in profits.
Operating under the guise of a company called Puzzle Logistics Limited, formed in 2016, the trio used a warehouse unit at Acton Business Centre to produce, package, and supply the illegal drugs. Detectives initiated their investigation in January 2022 and soon discovered the suspects’ daily visits to the warehouse. Krunal Patel was frequently seen leaving with large bags, only to return shortly thereafter without their contents.
To facilitate their criminal enterprise, users purchased the drugs on the dark web, paying with cryptocurrency. The Cyber Crime Unit’s specialised knowledge of the dark web and training in cryptocurrency proved invaluable in advancing the investigation.
Detectives employed specialised cyber tactics to establish the Valentines’ and Patel’s involvement in the production and sale of illegal substances. It was determined that the three men converted £2 million from cryptocurrency into fiat currency (sterling), and these accounts have since been frozen by law enforcement.
On August 17, 2022, Krunal Patel was arrested near the warehouse, where officers discovered 15 parcels labeled for delivery to addresses across the UK. Inside these parcels were tablets imprinted with “Xanax” and “Teva,” both brand names for licensed medicines within the Benzodiazepine group. Roshan and Allen Valentine were apprehended later the same day.
A search of the warehouse revealed a concealed laboratory containing a significant amount of equipment and various containers of chemical substances, alongside numerous crates of pills manufactured on-site. Analysis confirmed that the pills contained Class C drugs from the Benzodiazepine group, including Deschloroetizolam, Flubromazepam, Bromazolam, and Flualprazolam.
Allen Valentine claimed to be a doctor with qualifications in pharmacy, although investigations are ongoing to verify these assertions.
The three individuals were charged with conspiracy to produce Class C drugs and money laundering offences on August 19, 2022, and were remanded in custody.
Detective Constable Alex Hawkins, who led the investigation, emphasized the sophisticated nature of the operation and its potential harm to the public. Some of the drugs seized contained entirely different chemicals from those found in genuine tablets, posing significant risks to users. Legislation will be amended later this year to classify these drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act as Class A substances, highlighting the seriousness of the case.
Detective Superintendent Helen Rance, who leads the Cyber Crime Unit, underlined the unit’s expertise in tackling illegal activities on the dark web and its collaborative efforts with international law enforcement partners to combat such operations.
In sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, Krunal Patel received a six-year prison sentence, Roshan Valentine was sentenced to seven years, and Allen Valentine received an 11-year prison term. Krunal Patel and Roshan Valentine had previously pleaded guilty to multiple offences, while Allen Valentine was found guilty following a trial.
