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Dark web drug supermarket duo jailed Dark web drug supermarket duo from Huddersfield jailed
(35 minutes later)
Two university friends who bought and sold the deadly drug fentanyl via the dark web have been jailed.Two university friends who bought and sold the deadly drug fentanyl via the dark web have been jailed.
Ross Brennan, 28, and Aarron Gledhill, 30, made hundreds of thousands of pounds mixing and selling the high-strength painkiller and other drugs.Ross Brennan, 28, and Aarron Gledhill, 30, made hundreds of thousands of pounds mixing and selling the high-strength painkiller and other drugs.
At least 70 people have died in the UK in the last nine months after taking fentanyl, often when mixed with heroin.At least 70 people have died in the UK in the last nine months after taking fentanyl, often when mixed with heroin.
Brennan and Gledhill, both from Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to drug and money laundering offences.Brennan and Gledhill, both from Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to drug and money laundering offences.
Brennan was jailed for 13 years and eight months while Gledhill was sentenced to three years and nine months by Judge Andrew Stubbs at York Crown Court. Brennan was jailed for 13 years and eight months while Gledhill was sentenced to three years and nine months by Judge Andrew Stubbs, at York Crown Court.
More stories from across YorkshireMore stories from across Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Police uncovered the operation when a neighbour raised concerns for the welfare of Brennan, who has autism.North Yorkshire Police uncovered the operation when a neighbour raised concerns for the welfare of Brennan, who has autism.
Det Supt Steve Thomas said: "What we found was a production laboratory for synthetic drugs and more traditional drugs.Det Supt Steve Thomas said: "What we found was a production laboratory for synthetic drugs and more traditional drugs.
"[We also found] computer equipment that over the weeks and months revealed a sophisticated drug dealing business operating on the dark web under the guise of a business called 'Savage Henry'.""[We also found] computer equipment that over the weeks and months revealed a sophisticated drug dealing business operating on the dark web under the guise of a business called 'Savage Henry'."
Brennan and Gledhill, who met at university, made up to £1,000 a day operating the illegal online supermarket for two years on a site called AlphaBay. Brennan and Gledhill made up to £1,000 a day operating the illegal online supermarket for two years on a site called AlphaBay.
The duo bought, mixed and sold the drugs, including fentanyl crystal meth and cocaine, using a copy of Chemistry for Dummies before posting them on to people across the UK.The duo bought, mixed and sold the drugs, including fentanyl crystal meth and cocaine, using a copy of Chemistry for Dummies before posting them on to people across the UK.
The force said it could only estimate the number of transactions that took place as they used data shredding software, but the site had received more than 4,000 reviews. The force said it could only estimate the number of transactions that took place as they used data-shredding software, but the site had received more than 4,000 reviews.
Their illicit business was worth between £275,000 and as £1.5m, depending on the fluctuating value of the virtual currency Bitcoin they traded in. Their operation was said to be worth between £275,000 and as £1.5m, depending on the fluctuating value of the virtual currency Bitcoin they traded in.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl - which hit the headlines after it was linked to the death of US singer Prince - is an extremely strong painkiller, prescribed for severe chronic pain, or breakthrough pain which does not respond to regular painkillers.
It is an opioid painkiller, which means it works by mimicking the body's natural painkillers, endorphins, that block pain messages to the brain.
According to America's Drug Enforcement Agency, it is considered to be 50 times more potent than heroin.
The risk of harm is higher if the wrong dose or strength is used.
Typical symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include slow and difficult breathing, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and increased blood pressure.
Det Supt Thomas said: "These are two individuals who clearly didn't give any consideration to the welfare of their customers. They were only interested in the profit.
"These are people who had downloaded a 'Chemistry for Dummies' guide and then sent out potentially dangerous substances, that on any occasion could have resulted in a serious impact on someone's health or even death."
He said Brennan would exaggerate his autism and present himself as someone who "struggled to cope with normal life and society" but was really a "sophisticated criminal who was trying to pull the wool over a number of agencies' eyes".
Officers had discovered encrypted messages from Brennan in which he "pretended to be more ill than he was".
"They also knew that what they were selling was potentially dangerous, that's the thing that really put a chill through the investigation team.
"They knew that they were harming people and yet they continued to sell. They put money and profit above the welfare of their customers."
Four people who bought drugs from Brennan and Gledhill have died, though police said they cannot prove if their deaths were directly linked to the Savage Henry website.
Brennan, of Great Northern Street, and Gledhill, of Almondbury Bank, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import class A drugs, conspiracy to sell class A drugs and concealing criminal property.
Brennan also admitted three charges of making indecent images and one of distributing indecent images. He has been put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.