BBC Midlands Today<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A gang leader who co-ordinated from Thailand a \u00a34m fake Xanax drug-making operation in sheds and garages across the West Midlands has been jailed for eight years.<\/p>\n Up to 11 million tablets were made in various locations in Tipton, Wednesbury and Wolverhampton and then sold on the dark web via cryptocurrency payments.<\/p>\n The criminal enterprise, between 2018 and 2019, was run from a luxury villa in Thailand by Brian Pitts, 30, who is one of 10 being sentenced for their part in the operation.<\/p>\n The fake tablets were shipped across the UK and to the USA, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tests revealed the amount of the active ingredient Alprazalam in the fake tablets varied from none at all to twice the proper amount.<\/p>\n Pitts, who had earlier pleaded guilty to six charges, including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs, was described by Judge John Butterfield as “the beating heart of this enterprise”.<\/p>\n He said the ringleader controlled every part of the drugs operation and was constantly involved in it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Pitts, of Beebee Road, in Wednesbury, was arrested by police when he returned to the UK with his then-partner Katie Harlow, who was also part of the Thai-end of the criminal operation.<\/p>\n The officers were able to seize his mobile phone, which prosecutors described as a “goldmine of information”, showing his involvement at all levels of the operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Four other members of the gang were jailed on Thursday, with five others due to sentenced in the coming days.<\/p>\n Harlow, 27, of Lane Street, Bilston, was sentenced to two years and one month, after she earlier admitted a charge of converting and transferring criminal property.<\/p>\n Judge Butterfield said that while it appeared Pitts had taken some actions in her name, none of them were without her knowledge.<\/p>\n Lee Lloyd, 48, of Shakespeare Road, Tipton, was sentenced to seven years and two months, after earlier admitting six charges, including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs.<\/p>\n Kyle Smith, 26, of Arundel Road, Willenhall, was jailed for four years. He had previously pleaded guilty to five charges, including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs.<\/p>\n Mark Bayley, 63, of Jeremy Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to six years and five months. He also previously pleaded guilty to five charges, including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"West](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/03cf\/live\/a7eb5a30-0978-11f0-8c19-810852503a69.jpg.webp\")
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