Three men have been convicted after being discovered running a large-scale drugs factory in Acton and selling drugs on the dark web. 

Krunal Patel, 40, of Carmalite Road, Harrow, and Roshan Valentine, 39, of Hilliard Road, Northwood, and Allen Valentine, 62, of Kynaston Wood, Harrow were operating a large pharmaceutical drugs factory out of a warehouse unit in Acton Business Park. 

The trio were producing and selling Benzodiazepines, a type of sedative, Xanax, Diazepam and in the past Valium and they made an illicit profit of at least £3.5 million. 

The Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit led the investigation after being given information from the Drug Enforcement Administration in America and the investigation began in January 2022 when they discovered the three men visiting a warehouse unit in Acton Business Park. 

The drugs were produced, packaged, and distributed from this unit and they operated under the guise of a company called Puzzle Logistics Limited. 

The drugs were sold on the dark web in exchange for cryptocurrency. 

On 17th August 2022, Patel was arrested near the warehouse unit with 15 parcels which had tablets in them labelled "Xanax" and "Teva", before Roshan and Allen Valentine were arrested later the same day. 

Officers searched their warehouse and found a laboratory with crates of pills which were found to contain Class C drugs from the Benzodiazepine group including Deschloroetizolam, Flubromazepam, Bromazolam and Flualprazolam. 

Allen Valentine told the jury he was a doctor and has qualifications in pharmacy, enquiries are currently ongoing to verify the claims. 

Detective Constable Alex Hawkins, of the Met's Cyber Crime Unit led the investigation. He said: "The three men ran a sophisticated, large scale production of fake pharmaceutical drugs sold on the dark web that appeared to be genuine. Their operation was solely for the greed of those involved bearing no concern for the vulnerabilities of those purchasing these drugs. 

"Some of the drugs contained completely different chemicals from those which should be in the genuine tablets; some of them are extremely dangerous. 

"This is the first seizure of those chemicals in the UK and as such legislation will be amended later this year to include these drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act as Class A substances. Stopping the manufacturing of these drugs has removed a significant risk to the public. 

"We would like to thank pharmaceutical companies Viatris and Teva UK for assisting the Met in our investigation and supporting our prosecution against these dangerous and fraudulent men. 

"I'd urge anyone to seek medical advice and obtain a prescription for medication through a doctor. If you buy from the dark web there is no guarantee what is in the substances, as with this case." 

Patel and Allen Valentine pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 10th February to: 

• Conspiracy to produce controlled drugs of Class C 
• Conspiracy to supply controlled drugs of Class C 
• Possessing a controlled drug of Class C with intent to supply 
• Conspiracy to sell trademarked goods without authorisation 
• Conspiracy to use a registered trademark for labelling or packaging goods without authorisation 
• Possession of articles designed to make unauthorised copies of registered trademarks 
• Conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property 

Allen Valentine pleaded not guilty to the same offences and was found guilty on Tuesday, 9 May following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.