About This Article
Zoom Testing has provided drug testing products and information for over 20 years. This archived article preserves our September 2017 reporting on the sentencing of two men involved in a dark web drug-dealing operation, together with background information about fentanyl.
Originally published: 27 September 2017 | Reviewed: 10 October 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
From the Zoom Testing Archive: This article was originally published on 27 September 2017 and records a UK court case and information about fentanyl being reported at that time. The original news reporting has been substantially preserved as a historical record, with limited corrections to drug safety information and dated statistics. Drug trends, research, testing guidance and relevant legislation may have developed since publication. For current drug testing information and guidance, please see our latest articles.
A couple of friends from university who purchased and sold fentanyl, a deadly drug, on the dark web are now in jail.
Aarron Gledhill, 30, and Ross Brennan, 28, raked in hundreds of pounds in profits making and selling the deadly painkiller as well as other illicit drugs.
In the nine months preceding the September 2017 report, at least 70 deaths in the UK had been linked to fentanyl, often in combination with heroin. This is a historical figure reported at the time, not a current UK death statistic.
Gledhill and Brennan are from Huddersfield and they both pleaded guilty to money laundering and drug charges.
Judge Andrew Stubbs of York Crown Court sentenced Gledhill to 3 years and 9 months, and Brennan got a 13-year and 8-month jail sentence.
Brennan has autism and his neighbours raised concerns about his welfare to North Yorkshire Police, who later uncovered the operation.
The police discovered a synthetic drug production lab along with more common drugs. They also unearthed computers that showed, after months of investigation, a sophisticated business of drug dealing on the dark web using a business known as ‘Savage Henry’.
Gledhill and Brennan met in Huddersfield at university and were making up to £1,000 daily from AlphaBay, an illegal online supermarket, for 2 years, but the site is now closed.
They purchased, made and sold illegal drugs which included cocaine, fentanyl and crystal meth. Investigators also recovered a copy of the book Chemistry for Dummies. They posted the drugs all over the UK.
Investigators were only able to use an estimate of how much they took in from the number of transactions because they used data-shredding software to get rid of evidence. The site, however, got over 4,000 reviews.
The value of the operation was anywhere from £275,000 to £1.5m, depending on the value of the volatile virtual currency Bitcoin, which they used for trade.
For contemporary reporting of the sentencing, see The Guardian’s report from 25 September 2017.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl exploded in the news headlines after it was linked to Prince’s (US singer) death. It is a very powerful synthetic opioid painkiller used medically to treat severe pain, including some forms of chronic or breakthrough pain.
This painkiller is an opioid and works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system, reducing the perception of pain.
As per the Drug Enforcement Administration in America, fentanyl is approximately 50 times as potent as heroin.
If not used as prescribed, there is a significantly increased risk of harm. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl can be particularly dangerous because the amount present may be unknown.
Signs of a fentanyl overdose can include very slow or shallow breathing, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness and difficulty waking the person. An overdose can be fatal. Call 999 immediately if an opioid overdose is suspected. Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose while emergency help is obtained.
For current medical information, see the NHS guidance on fentanyl, including its risks, side effects and emergency advice.
Photo Credit: “DSC_9968” (Public Domain) by Dennis Yip.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based drug testing expert and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Testing, a trusted source for accurate drug testing kits and testing guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using UK legislation, workplace compliance standards, and harm reduction best practices. Where possible, content is reviewed by testing specialists and compliance professionals to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed testing decisions.
Drug Testing Disclaimer
This article is for general information only. Drug test cut-off levels, detection times and results can vary according to the test, specimen type and testing standard being used. A screening result should not be used on its own to make medical, legal or employment decisions. Where a test result has significant consequences, appropriate confirmation testing and professional advice should be considered.
