POLICE have uncovered a steroid lab in a suburban family home, in a further sign of how widespread the drug is in Australia.
Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) discovered the lab as part of their ongoing investigation into the supply of steroids in Sydney’s southwest.
The steroids have an estimated street value of $365,000 and the bust is the latest in a number of seizures of steroids in Sydney and around the country.
This week alone there have been arrests in the Gold Coast, South Sydney and the Central Coast where vials of steroids have been found.
In the latest bust, officers executed the search warrant on the home in Rosemont Street, Punchbowl, on Tuesday afternoon.
Three children, along with two adults, live at the address.
A liquid form of steroid was found in a five-litre beaker in an oven while other drugs were allegedly found in several other locations including:
— More than 2,900 individual vials of liquid injectable anabolic steroids
— Approximately 700 bottles containing oral anabolic steroids
A Glock 17 pistol and 12 magazines — all of which were loaded with 9mm ammunition — were found and seized along with cash, electronic equipment, a safe and five motor bikes were also seized from the property.
Because of the number of chemicals found police moved everyone who lived there and sealed the house off for specialist firefighters.
A 43-year-old man was arrested and is facing 26 charges including the commercial manufacture of prohibited drugs (steroids) in circumstances of aggravation, commercial supply of prohibited drugs (steroids); possession of an unauthorised prohibited weapon as well as driving offences.
He was denied bail when he appeared in court yesterday and remanded to appear in court again on October 22.
Earlier this year the Daily Telegraph reported that some gyms were now installing needle disposal bins because use among gym users.
Customs seizures of performance and image-enhancing drugs have increased from 1820 in 2007-2008 to 10,358 last financial year — a staggering increase of 570 per cent in just five years.
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