Two Solihull pharmacists were sentenced today (July 12) at Birmingham Crown Court for a combined total of 57 months for the illegal supply of prescription medicines.

An investigation by the MHRA revealed that between September 2015 and May 2016 Dean Dookhan and Narvinder Nandra diverted nearly 21,000 packs of Zolpidem from the legal supply chain onto the black market. The black market value of the drugs was estimated at around £600,000.

When MHRA investigators visited Northbrook Pharmacy, records found on the premises showed that, of the hundreds of thousands of doses of Zolpidem purchased from wholesalers, only a small percentage had been dispensed against prescriptions. This left almost 600,000 pills unaccounted for.

Mr Dookhan later admitted diverting the medicines to another pharmacy, while Mr Nandra claimed that they were exported to Trinidad.

Judge Francis Laird QC said: "It is difficult to see a worse offence committed by a pharmacist. It's like a solicitor stealing someone's money.”

MHRA enforcement officer Grant Powell said: "It is a serious criminal offence to sell controlled, unlicensed or prescription-only medicines in this way.

"Anyone who sells medicines illegally is not only breaking the law but clearly shows a total disregard for the health and welfare of anyone who may purchase them.

"Prescription only medicines are potent and should only be taken under medical supervision. Their sale outside the legal supply route could lead to vulnerable people being exploited."