Pharmacist Struck Off for Large-Scale Unlawful Supply of Controlled Drugs
Date of Decision: February 18, 2025
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- Conviction for the unlawful supply of controlled drugs (Class C):
- Between December 2013 and December 2015, unlawfully supplied 24,194,245 tablets of Diazepam.
- Supplied 3,910,376 tablets of Zopiclone over the same period.
- Conviction for distributing medicinal products by wholesale dealing without a licence:
- Distributed 1,456 tablets of Diazepam without proper authorisation.
- Distributed 616 tablets of Zopiclone without a wholesale dealer’s licence.
- The pharmacist was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on November 6, 2020, and sentenced to 24 months in prison (suspended for 24 months), 200 hours of unpaid work, and a confiscation order of £606,247.71, payable by May 2025.
Outcome: Removal from the register
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 5 – Use professional judgment
- Standard 6 – Behave in a professional manner
- Standard 8 – Speak up when things go wrong
- Standard 9 – Demonstrate leadership
Case Summary
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee investigated a pharmacist following his conviction at Southwark Crown Court for the large-scale unlawful supply and wholesale distribution of controlled drugs.
Between 2013 and 2015, the registrant supplied nearly 28 million Class C controlled drug tablets (Diazepam and Zopiclone) outside the regulated supply chain. The court found this posed a serious risk to public safety and was conducted for financial gain.
Findings
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- Full allegations considered by the GPhC
- Panel findings and reasoning
- Outcome of the investigation
- Sanctions considered and imposed on the Pharmacist
- Key professional learning points
Original Case Document
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- Full hearing transcript
- Detailed findings of fact
- Sanction reasoning
- Details of the pharmacy professionals involved