DEA officials announced a
nationwide series of enforcement actions targeting every level of the global
underground trade of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs,
the vast majority of which are manufactured and trafficked from underground
labs in China.
DEA-led Operation Cyber Juice
comprised of over 30 different U.S. investigations in 20 states and resulted in
the arrest of over 90 individuals, the seizure of 16 underground steroid labs,
approximately 134,000 steroid dosage units, 636 kilograms of raw steroid
powder, 8,200 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid, and over $2 million in
U.S. currency and assets. In addition, DEA and its partners assisted in
foreign steroid investigations in four countries coordinated by Europol. Domestic
law enforcement partners include the Department of Homeland Security, and the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
In Arizona alone, Operation
Cyber Juice investigations yielded the seizure of four underground steroid
conversion labs, the seizure of nearly 150,000 dosage units of finished
product, 121 pounds of raw steroid powder, 22 liters of raw steroid injectable
liquid, and over $300,000 in U.S. currency and assets.
Often found in these
underground steroid labs are finished steroid product, raw steroid powder, oils
needed for steroid conversion to a finished product, conversion kits, and other
lab equipment. These products are commonly obtained via the internet from
Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and underground labs.
“Too many young people are ruining their lives and damaging their bodies from steroid abuse,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “Through Operation Cyber Juice, DEA is attacking the global underground steroid market, exposing its danger and lies.”
“This multi-agency
collaboration sends a strong message to those who traffic in illegal and
dangerous performance-enhancing drugs,” said Peter T. Edge, executive associate
director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI). “There’s no question that our joint efforts among HSI,
DEA and Interpol targeting a very significant drug distribution network will
have a huge impact on the distribution of illegal steroids and other dangerous
performance-enhancing drugs in the United States.”
Rob Wainwright, Director of
Europol, stated: “This international law enforcement action was accomplished
through the cooperation of multiple agencies committed to the single goal of
identifying and dismantling a lucrative criminal enterprise. Europol will
continue its successful cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration
and the World Doping Agency to eliminate this crime that spans across the globe
and cyberspace”.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
(USADA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Travis Tygart stated: "In the global
fight against dangerous performance-enhancing drugs, collaboration
between anti-doping
organizations and law enforcement is vital. This joint investigation again
demonstrates that we can work together to identify and hold accountable
underground steroid suppliers and users who are committing crimes and who
may also be cheating clean athletes and sport. The actions taken today
will help to ensure that all athletes are safer and any young athletes who are
pressured to use these drugs to win in sport are not preyed upon by illegal
drug dealers."
Furthermore, World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General David Howman stated, “For a long
time now, the World Anti-Doping Agency has been concerned about the illegal
activity in some countries of underground production and trade of anabolic
steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. These substances, either
as full steroid products or in raw material form, are being produced in
unsanitary “underground laboratories” with no concern whatsoever given to the
labeling of the products, nor to the health of the end user – quite often the
athlete, and worryingly, very often young people. This problem is proliferating
globally. It has become a public health issue and therefore requires an
international solution through partnerships and collaboration. By partnering
with USADA and the DEA in this major steroid operation, WADA has been able to
prevent potentially harmful steroid substances from getting into the hands of
athletes looking for an edge. This is a good example of anti-doping and law
enforcement working well together to further their own efforts of reducing
doping and protecting public health.”
There is great danger in
buying steroids, chemicals, and other illicit products on the
Internet. Many companies operating illegally both in the United States,
China, and elsewhere have no regard for product safety and mislabeling is
common – both intentional and unintentional. Products are often
misrepresented, and their safety is not at all guaranteed. In addition,
federal agents report that many of the underground steroid labs seized are
extremely unsanitary, further illustrating the danger in buying these products
illegally. For example, recent lab seizures uncovered huge amounts of raw
materials being mixed in bathtubs and bathroom sinks.
Throughout Operation Cyber
Juice, DEA and its law enforcement partners worked closely with both USADA and
WADA, receiving actionable intelligence that resulted in many of these
investigations. This vision was to utilize law enforcement, anti-doping
resources, and intelligence, to assist in furtherance of their respective
efforts. In addition, Europol analysts were collecting information and
providing leads to participating countries for further investigation.
Previous DEA steroid
investigations such as Operation Raw Deal in 2007 focused on raw material
manufacturers and suppliers in China and other countries; underground anabolic
laboratories in North America; numerous U.S.-based websites distributing
materials, or conversion kits, necessary to convert raw steroid powders into
finished product; and Internet bodybuilding discussion boards that are the
catalysts for individuals to learn how to illicitly discreetly purchase and use
performance enhance drugs, including anabolic steroids. Many of the
underground steroids labs targeted in this case advertise and are endorsed on
these message boards.
For more information
regarding the dangers of steroid abuse, please visit www.justthinktwice.com
and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com.
