Conspirators who wanted a “greedy profit” from importing drugs worth £2 million from China and Hong Kong have received jail sentences totalling more than 45 years.

A sophisticated criminal operation based in North Wales sucked in mature people – one was a 68-year-old pensioner – some with no criminal past, to make a greedy profit illegally selling steroids with no thought for the consequences, a judge said.

Judge Huw Rees told Mold Crown Court: “It is well known that anabolic steroids have been widely abused in sport, especially where an increase in muscle mass is required.

“But the administration of steroids often produces unwanted side effects, mood swings, over confidence, aggression, loss of libido and liver toxicity.

"The side effects vary widely between individuals.”

Following seizures by Customs officers of parcels from China and Hong Kong bound for addresses in Deeside, Flint and Ruthin, North Wales Police launched Operation Fasti which uncovered drug imports which could have netted criminals a £1.2m profit.

Judge Rees told the 14 defendants: “It is a hallmark of this case that it involves some people of previous good character and some mature people who have been tempted to make a greedy profit without thought for the consequences they were imposing on others.”

The operation was “sophisticated” and involved production of steroids at various locations in large quantities, said Judge Rees, with the criminals setting out their wares on-line in some cases.

“In the last decade the availability of steroids through the internet has risen significantly in their variety and of varying quality.

"This is a serious case of its kind and has correctly been described as a very extensive criminal enterprise,” he said.

The defendants included a father and son, a mother and son and a mother and daughter who all shared jail sentences totalling 45 years and five months.

Before the court were 14 defendants on conspiracy and money laundering charges:

David Jenkins, 37, of Cornist Lane, Flint; Andrew Dodd, 51, of Maes Refail, Henryd, Conwy; and Macauley Dodd, 23, of Maes Refail, Henryd, all admitted four charges of conspiracy to contravene customs, produce and supply Class C drugs, anabolic steroids, and conceal criminal property.

The judge told them: “You were motivated by sheer greed and employed sophisticated means involving no thought for the consequences of the dissemination of steroids. You played leading roles.”

Jenkins was jailed for six years, Andrew Dodd five years and his son Macaulay Dodd, five years.

Abbie Roberts, 25, of Cornist Lane, Flint , Helen Massey, 46, of Cornwall Road, Shotton, Samantha Fletcher, 47, of Cornist Lane, Flint and Christina Fisher, 45, of Mallard Road, Castlefield, West Yorkshire, all admitted one charge of conspiracy to supply class C drugs.

Judge Rees said it was a pity Roberts had not thought about her five-year-old daughter before offending, but her role in the operation was “significant” and he sentenced her to three years and four months.

Massey had paid suppliers, taken deliveries and labelled bottles, said Judge Rees and sentenced her to three years and four months.

Fletcher had played a “leading role”, said Judge Rees. She had not enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and the judge acknowledged a series of deaths in her family and that she had shown true remorse. She was jailed for three years and four months.

He said Fisher had played a lesser role in accepting a limited number of parcels at her home. She was jailed for 18 months.

Joseph Taylor-Hannah, 28, of Huddersfield, admitted possession with intent to supply class C drugs and was given a nine month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Craig Anholm, 47, and Joshua Jones, 28, both of Castleford, each admitted two conspiracy charges to supply Class C drugs and conceal criminal property.

Brian Craig, 63, of Ketland Close, Shotton, admitted one conspiracy charge to contravene customs.

Anholm was jailed for two years and eight months, Jones, who had promoted sales in Yorkshire was jailed for four years. Craig had allowed deliveries to his Shotton home and was given three years.

Maureen Jenkins, 68, of Fairway, Sandycroft, admitted one charge of conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

“You are 68 and not in good health and you should not have become involved at the behest of your son, David Jenkins.”

David Jenkins relied on his mother to provide an unsuspecting safe-house, said Judge Rees.

He said she “undoubtedly knew what was going on” and might have taken part out of misguided loyalty. She was jailed for 20 months.

Scott Watson, 36, of Sealand Avenue, Garden City, admitted conspiracy to contravene customs and to conceal criminal property.

The judge said he must have had an idea of the scale of the operation and jailed him for four years and two months.

Colin Mark Sullivan, 37, of The Highway, Hawarden, admitted conspiracy to conceal criminal property in relation to money but not drugs.

His joint purchase of a property in Church Street, Connah’s Quay, as a drop for parcels meant he had played a leading role in the conspiracy. He was jailed for two years and five months.

A proceeds of crime hearing has been set for next April.

Investigating officer, DC Ian Millington, at St Asaph CID said after the sentencing hearing: "This has been a complex and protracted investigation spanning over three years and involving search warrants executed across several locations in North Wales, and further afield in West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Oxford and London culminating in the sentencing today of 14 defendants.

"A further two defendants are due in court in the coming months in relation to this investigation.

"This was a multi-million pound criminal enterprise where steroids were sold UK and worldwide, having been manufactured using raw products imported from Hong Kong and mainland China.

"The imports of the raw products and manufacturing equipment was often disguised as food products and food related equipment.

"The steroids were generally sold using a professionally set up website giving customers the impression the drugs were produced in sterile laboratory conditions.

"This could not have been further from the truth and the laboratory when found was in a dirty and dusty outbuilding at an address linked to some of the defendants.

"While steroids are classed as class C drugs there are well recognised and documented side effects associated with their use which is why those involved must realise there is a consequence to their actions and North Wales Police welcome the sentences passed down today, and I hope it reinforces our stance in line with the force’s Operation Scorpion that we are fully committed to the investigation of serious and organised crime and eradicating it from our communities."