Brian Pitts, 30, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating a £4 million fake Xanax production ring from a luxury villa in Thailand. The large-scale criminal operation, active between 2018 and 2019, saw up to 11 million counterfeit pills manufactured in garages and sheds across the West Midlands before being sold on the dark web in exchange for cryptocurrency.
How the Operation Worked
The fake Xanax pills were produced in locations in Tipton, Wednesbury, and Wolverhampton before being shipped across the UK and the USA. Tests revealed that the pills contained wildly inconsistent doses of Alprazolam, the active ingredient in real Xanax, with some containing none at all and others having double the proper amount.
The enterprise came to light after an investigation was launched by Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures genuine Xanax.
Pitts’ Role and Arrest
Described by Judge John Butterfield as “the beating heart of this enterprise,” Pitts controlled every aspect of the operation. He was arrested upon returning to the UK with his then-partner, Katie Harlow, and accomplice Lee Lloyd. When detained, they were found with designer clothing and Rolex watches in their luggage.
Investigators seized Pitts’ phone, which prosecutors called a “goldmine of information,” revealing his deep involvement at all levels of the criminal network.
Other Gang Members Sentenced
Katie Harlow, 27 – Jailed for two years and one month for converting and transferring criminal property.
Lee Lloyd, 48 – Sentenced to seven years and two months for conspiracy to supply Class C drugs, described as Pitts’ “trusted right-hand man.”
Kyle Smith, 26 – Jailed for four years for packaging and posting the counterfeit pills.
Mark Bayley, 63 – Sentenced to six years and five months after police found a pill-making machine in operation at his address.
Four more members of the gang have been jailed, with five others awaiting sentencing.
A Large-Scale Criminal Enterprise
Judge Butterfield rejected any notion that this was a small-scale operation, calling it “large-scale, organized, and determined.” The gang had legally purchased four pill-pressing machines before setting up their illicit drug-making operation.
This case highlights the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and the growing problem of drug trafficking via the dark web.
