“e-Pharmacist” Sold More Chemicals To Coke Boys In A Day Than Pharma Giants Do In A Year
Drug dealers are always looking for ways to maximize their profits. One way cocaine dealers do so is by “stretching” their product with cutting agents to increase volume. In the UK, coke boys had a good supplier of cutting agents in online “pharmacist” Gary King. However, after King’s recent arrest, they may have to find a new source.
King, 26, set up online business that sold common cocaine cutting chemicals like benzocaine, paracetamol, caffeine and lidocaine. Between June 2012 and January 2014, he would sit in his “grubby” facility, breaking up the chemicals in a mini-cement mixer, preparing it for sale. King claimed to have legitimate clients, such as laboratories, research doctors and dentists, but something was off. He was regularly making transactions for 25 kilograms of the chemicals. In one day, King sold 50 kilos of benzocaine (at £100 a piece). The reason this is suspicious is because GlaxoSmithKlein, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company only sold 25 kilos of benzocaine globally in a year’s time. It is suspected that during King’s two years of operation, he sold more than 1.5 tons.
It was discovered that he was, indeed, supplying cocaine dealers across the country with pack expanders. After seizing shipments at UK airports and ports that were destined for King, the Serious Crime Agency warned him several times. Instead of falling back, King set up a new website, called Benz Shop Ltd,, which sold benzocaine exclusively.
The Telegraph details King’s downfall:
King was arrested after Desmond Bellamy, 22, an alleged associate of a Southampton-based drug dealer was arrested having collected a 50 kilo purchase from King’s lockup.
He is said to have passed on 25 kilos to a henchman of London-based alleged drug dealers Alfred Henaj and Renato Pulaj, both 35, before continuing on to Southampton.
Bellamy was arrested at a service station on the M3 in June 2014 with 25 kilos of benzocaine and a quantity of cash – said to be payment for running the cutting agent to Henaj and Pulaj.
King faces two counts each of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and encouraging or assisting the supply of a class A controlled drug. He has denied the charges.
Read here about how caffeine is a useful cutting agent for cocaine dealers.
