BRITISH pharmacist, Jasper Ojela, will spend up to 28 months behind bars after being caught diverting opiate painkillers, tranquillisers and medications intended for cancer patients to the black market.
The 56-year-old pharmacy owner's side hustle came undone when a pharmacy wholesaler reported that during an audit it had discovered the sale of medicines classified as 'controlled drugs' had not be recorded, prompting an investigation.
Inspectors from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency noticed Ojela's pharmacy had purchased large quantities of diazepam, zolpidem and zopiclone from wholesalers.
During an interview with police, Ojela admitted that between Feb and Sep 2016 he illegally supplied more than 200,000 doses of the drugs to criminal associates while not holding licenses to supply the medicines in the first place.
With more than two years to contemplate his actions while serving out his sentence at Her Majesty's pleasure, Ojela is likely to need to prepare for a new career, as the General Pharmaceutical Council has indicated it will pursue disciplinary action against him.
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