A man from Dudley who acted as an online moderator for a nationwide dark web drug supply network has been sentenced to prison. Connor Pardoe, aged 30, of Bewlay Close, Dudley, received a three-year and nine-month sentence at Kingston Crown Court for his involvement in supporting the illegal online marketplace known as SocialPharma.
From April 2024 to April 2025, Pardoe worked for SocialPharma, an operation that supplied class A, B, and C drugs, including counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets, via Telegram and dark net markets. Established in 2018, the network received at least £4.3 million in Bitcoin payments.
Initially a customer of SocialPharma, Pardoe later assumed a more significant role as a moderator, effectively serving as a customer service representative. In this capacity, he facilitated communication between buyers and the network, handling complaints about lost packages, answering queries, and removing members who failed to follow group rules. He also promoted drug listings within SocialPharma channels and across a wider network of related drug platforms.
At a hearing in March, Pardoe pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (namely crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin) and one count of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (namely amphetamine). His involvement was conducted entirely online, and he was paid in drugs for his work.
In December 2025, four key members of the group—Osvaldas Novikovas, Jordanas Avizienius, Marius Sutrinavicius, and Javed Afzal Khan—were imprisoned for a combined total of more than 47 years for their roles in running the operation, which included drug supply, packaging, distribution, and sourcing pharmaceutical products.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Rob Bryant of SEROCU's Cyber team commented: "Pardoe may not have been involved in the physical handling of drugs, but his role was vital in maintaining the day-to-day operation of this criminal enterprise. By acting as a moderator and handling customer service, he helped facilitate the supply of dangerous and unregulated substances to customers across the UK. The risks posed by drugs sold through platforms like SocialPharma remain significant. Customers have no way of knowing exactly what they are buying, and these substances can have devastating or even fatal consequences. I hope today's sentence demonstrates that individuals who support organised crime groups online will be held accountable, even if their role is carried out entirely behind a screen."
