A notorious drug trafficker in England has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.
The judge who presided the case ruled that the suspect be imprisoned even if he was not directly selling drugs to the users.
The police officials who arrested the defendant, Andrew Hodges, stated that he was operating his drug-dealing business within a dark web marketplace.
He also allegedly smuggled the drugs to England through the mail and later distributed them to buyers locally.
Hodges is alleged to have imported and sold a type of hard drug known as N-bomb, which he mostly supplied to local clubs and parties.
These are class A drugs, which are highly dangerous if used without control.
N-bomb is a chemical substance that, once consumed, causes hallucinogenic affects to the user even if used in small quantities.
Sold in both liquid and powder form, N-bomb can be inhaled, smoked, ingested or injected by users.
Because the drug is hazardous to handle, law enforcement officials are required to take extreme caution if they find themselves in the presence of the chemical.
This is due to the toxicity levels found in the drug's chemical compounds, carrying a high likelihood of adverse effects if the drug is consumed.
Hodges was a former conveyancing executive back in 2010, at which time he lost his job. Then, he began smuggling and selling drugs on the dark web under the guise of anonymity.
He is accused of selling N-bomb to a teenager, who later offered some supply to his 16-year-old friend, Nathan Wood. After taking the drug, Wood's friends quickly observed abnormal behavior from him.
The effects of the drug led the teenager to jump into a river, where he ultimately died by drowning.
After the incident, local law enforcement and citizens around the neighborhood began a long search for the dealers who supplied this drug to the teenagers.
This effort became known as "Operation Venus," which started immediately after Wood's death.
The police worked very hard to nail down the primary suspect who had been responsible for the city's N-bomb supply, and they were ultimately able to track the drug deals back to Andrew Hodges.
Hodges is alleged to be a well-connected drug dealer to most parties in the city.
Since he received his deliveries through a post office account with an alias name, it was difficult for law enforcement to connect him with the crimes.
The police raided his home in Paignton and found supply of MDMA (ecstasy) and LSD, which police allege were intended to be distributed locally.
Although he was not directly implicated in being responsible for the death of Nathan Wood, the judge at the court said Hodges had been supplying the same drugs that killed the boy; and punishment for the crime is promptly needed.
This was seen as enough consolation for Wood's family, who were present at the hearing along with other interested parties in the community.
The police who arrested Hodges were able to find a notebook hidden behind a microwave in his residence. The notebook is believed to have contained vital information on where Hodges hid the drugs.
On further investigation, the police came to find out that Hodges used a PO Box in Torquay, where his drugs were delivered. This is a common method most dark web drug dealers use.
On being prosecuted, Hodges admitted to his possession and smuggling of class A and class B drugs.
He was also charged with supplying drugs that led to the death of Nathan Wood and intending to supply drugs to even more users.
The judge's final decision was welcomed by many people who had attended the ruling and followed the case since Hodges was initially arrested. And Wood's family members were satisfied with the judgement.
Disclaimer:
The articles and content found on Dark Web News are for general information purposes only and are not intended to solicit illegal activity or constitute legal advice. Using drugs is harmful to your health and can cause serious problems including death and imprisonment, and any treatment should not be undertaken without medical supervision.
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