A man has been sentenced to\u00a0ten\u00a0years imprisonment\u00a0after pleading guilty to charges relating to the illegal sale of prescription-only medicines with a street value exceeding \u00a33.7 million, following an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency\u2019s (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement\u00a0Unit (CEU).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having pleaded guilty\u00a0to five offences\u00a0at an earlier hearing, Mark Robert Witchell, aged 61, of Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced on\u00a03 March\u00a02026 at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Three others\u00a0were\u00a0convicted and sentenced in March 2023\u00a0with similar\u00a0offences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The offences, which took place between August 2013 and December 2015, involved the unlawful supply of Class B controlled drug codeine, and Class C controlled drugs alprazolam, diazepam, tramadol, zolpidem and zopiclone.\u00a0The group\u00a0also sold prescription-only medicines,\u00a0including Cialis and Levitra tablets,\u00a0without a valid prescription, and supplied a range of unauthorised medicinal products including Kamagra, Apcalis,\u00a0Aurogra\u00a0and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to the drug supply offences,\u00a0Witchell pleaded guilty to\u00a0having\u00a0entered into\u00a0arrangements that\u00a0facilitated\u00a0the acquisition, retention,\u00a0use\u00a0or control of criminal property under section 328(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.\u00a0He has also pleaded guilty to several other charges\u00a0related to fraud following a police investigation. Sentencing on these will\u00a0occur separately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Witchell was arrested upon\u00a0attempting\u00a0to re-enter the United Kingdom\u00a0via ferry following a\u00a010-year\u00a0period overseas in Brazil.\u00a0For the first time in the MHRA\u2019s history, the CEU\u00a0took the rare step of seeking extradition and work was ongoing to extradite him to the UK,\u00a0at the time\u00a0of\u00a0Witchell\u2019s\u00a0return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Head of the\u00a0MHRA\u00a0Criminal Enforcement\u00a0Unit,\u00a0Andy Morling said:<\/p>\n
This case involved the large-scale illegal supply of powerful controlled drugs and unauthorised medicines, putting the public at serious risk of harm. The fact that Witchell spent a decade overseas thinking\u00a0he\u00a0had evaded justice makes this result\u00a0all the more\u00a0significant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dedication and professionalism shown by our Criminal Enforcement Unit officers throughout this long and complex investigation has been exceptional. These crimes damage and destroy lives, and this case sends a clear message that there is nowhere to hide for those who seek to profit from medicines\u00a0trafficking.<\/p>\n
Specialist Prosecutor for the\u00a0Crown Prosecution Service\u00a0(CPS),\u00a0Ben\u00a0Reid\u00a0said:<\/p>\n
Witchell showed complete\u00a0disregard for the\u00a0vulnerable\u00a0individuals who purchased from his websites and the dangers of the drugs\u00a0he supplied, which were prescription medicines with side effects and high potential\u00a0for addition.\u00a0Indeed, relatives of\u00a0victims\u00a0described\u00a0the\u00a0devastating\u00a0effects\u00a0of addiction to\u00a0drugs\u00a0such as\u00a0zopiclone on their loved one\u2019s health and mental wellbeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Organised crime has no respect for borders, and we worked\u00a0tirelessly to obtain evidence from abroad on this case, as well as\u00a0liaising\u00a0closely\u00a0with partners including Staffordshire Police and the MHRA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This case\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0that the\u00a0CPS is\u00a0committed to\u00a0pursuing\u00a0criminals like Witchell wherever they are, for however long it takes.<\/p>\n
Notes to editors\u00a0<\/p>\n
The specific offences that Mark Robert Witchell pleaded guilty to were: one count of supplying a Class B controlled drug (codeine) contrary to section 4(3)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; one count of supplying Class C controlled drugs (alprazolam, diazepam, tramadol, zolpidem and zopiclone) contrary to section 4(3)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; one count of selling or supplying prescription only medicines otherwise than in accordance with a prescription, contrary to regulations 214(1) and 255(1)(a) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012; one count of selling or supplying unauthorised medicinal products contrary to regulations 46(1) and 47(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012; and one count of being concerned in an arrangement facilitating the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property contrary to section 328(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Criminal Enforcement Unit is a dedicated law enforcement capability within the MHRA. The unit collects and analyses criminal intelligence to\u00a0identify\u00a0illegal activity involving medical products and investigates cases to prevent and disrupt offending and bring offenders to justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)\u00a0is responsible for\u00a0regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).\u00a0<\/p>\n