POLICE officers and staff who helped bring down an international drugs conspiracy on the so-called 'dark web' have received commendations.

Twenty-six North Yorkshire Police officers and staff were awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation for their role in an investigation which saw two university friends jailed for more than 17 years.

Ross Brennan and Aarron Gledhill were found guilty of conspiracy to import fentanyl and other potent drugs and sell them on the dark web – an operation that earned them around £450,000.

In September 2017, Brennan, 28, from Huntington, York, was sentenced to 13 years, eight months in prison, while Gledhill, 30, of Huddersfield, was jailed for three years, nine months.

Chief constable Dave Jones said the force displayed “inspirational teamwork, courageous decision making and professionalism in dismantling a sophisticated international drugs market and protecting the public from further harm”.

Ringleader Brennan set up an “online supermarket” on the dark web to advertise the wares and used encryption software to hide transactions.

He imported drugs from around the world including fentanyl – which is up to 100 times stronger than heroin – cut them and posted them to thousands of online customers who paid in the virtual currency of Bitcoins.

He continued selling drugs despite knowing some of his customers had died.

Gledhill received and stored packages of drugs, which were sent to addresses in York and Huddersfield.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import and supply class-A drugs and money laundering.

The case is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK due to the quantities of strong drugs involved and their use of complex technology to connect with buyers.

The investigation also drew on the neighbourhood policing team, investigation hub, crime analysts, the cybercrime team, digital forensic experts, covert teams and North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit.

Detective inspector Nichola Holden, who led the investigation for the force and received a commendation, said: “It was very rewarding when Brennan and Gledhill chose to plead guilty amid the overwhelming evidence against them, and received significant prison sentences.

“It goes to show that although North Yorkshire Police is spread over a big geographic area, we can bring together an enviable range of skills to tackle a new generation of criminals who are using new technology.”