Steroids masqueraded as 'gay lube oil'
Christine Kellett | July 30, 2008 - 9:06AM
Customs officers say they have cracked a sophisticated drug importation ring in which performance-enhancing steroids were smuggled into Queensland inside bottles marked "gay lube oil".
More than 150 bottles have been intercepted in five states since the beginning of this year as part of a lengthy national investigation.
Disguised as sexual lubricant, authorities became suspicious at the number of orders being placed for the substance, which was being posted from Thailand.
Testing revealed the bottles in fact contained image and performance enhancing drugs including deca durabolin and testosterone.
"We found that we weren't dealing with an oil at all," a Customs spokesman said this morning.
"It was being ordered from websites...and there were just things about the extent to which we seeing this product coming into Australia that didn't add up."
Search warrants have been issued across the country, and several people have been cautioned.
Customs national manager Richard Janeczko said investigations were continuing in Australia and in Thailand, where local authorities were working to prevent further shipments.
Several people are expected to face prosecution.
"Despite the professionalism of this smuggling operation, Customs officers were not fooled by the labelling and misdeception," Mr Janeczko said.
"This is the latest in a growing number of attempts to beat Customs controls on these types of drugs...which have the potential to cause serious health risks."
The maximum penalty for smuggling performance enhancing drugs such as those seized, is five years' jail or a $110,000 fine.
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original story: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/qu ... 84654.html
