Police muscle in on steriods racket

TWENTY-NINE people have been charged after a national blitz on the smuggling of steroids , growth hormones and other illegal performance enhancing drugs.
Officials said 1335 separate shipments of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) had been seized since Operation Kasha started nine months ago.

Officers stopped an average of five shipments from being smuggled into the country through airports, seaports and mail centres each day and charged 29 people.

"In the last nine months, customs officers have seized more than 90,000 tablets, 60,000 capsules, 4000 vials and 650 ampoules of PIEDs," the statement read.

"There was also one of the biggest ever seizures by Customs of PIEDS with an individual shipment of more than 40kg of steroid powder detected in Sydney in March 2007."

The operation culminated with 47 raids this week in four states and two territories, in which investigators seized further quantities of PIEDs, cash and other evidence.

The maximum penalties for smuggling the drugs are five years jail and a $100,000 fine.

Customs National Investigations Manager Richard Janeczko said the sting had smashed a number of criminal networks operating throughout Australia.

"There is clear evidence that this type of smuggling is being carried out by organised criminals as well as individuals," Mr Janeczko said.

"These figures highlight the significant illegal demand for performance and image enhancing drugs among sectors of the Australian community and the challenges facing customs in stopping these substances from reaching gyms, nightclubs and suburban dealers."

He said abuse of such drugs had significant health risks and side effects.