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A police taskforce targeted to controlling outlaw motorcycle gangs illegal activity has reported an increase in anabolic steroid seizures.
The Queensland’s Police Taskforce Maxima, has stated that anabolic steroid seizures account for just over 50% of illegal substances confiscated by authorities in Queensland Australia.
Recently revised laws on anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), now means that steroids are categorised similarlily to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines.
Under Australian laws, a bodybuilder caught with a personal amount of anabolic steroids can be jailed for up to 15 years , whilst a steroid dealer, manufacturer or importer (on a large scale) can be sent to prison for 25 years. These are some of the most severe punishments in the world.
With steroid use exploding in Australia, as more and more young men become conscious of their bodies and image, criminal gangs have exploited this demand for large sums of cash.
Dr Terry Goldsworthy, a criminologist at Bond University, stated the ease of which steroids are now purchased for image and performance enhancement in the area
.
“So you have a lot people looking to improve their looks, to get fitter, and [steroids] can provide an easy way to achieve those goals that would otherwise be difficult to achieve,” he explained.
According to John Ikin, the Acting Regional Commander for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), steroid dealing offers an attractive illegal income for bikie gangs.
“The market for performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) presents a potential for profit, especially in places like Queensland where gyms and bodybuilding may be popular, which criminal gangs and organised syndicates are keen to take advantage of,” he said.
In the final six months of 2014, customs and border protection agents seized 3,056 packs of anabolic steroids and related drugs.
In a recent raid, police discovered 200 vials of steroids and human growth hormone (hGH) in and around Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan. It was also reported a bikie gang named Lone Wolves motorcycle club was responsible for the illegal possession.
Similar to how other underground labs (UGLs) operate, raw steroid powder is often imported from China and South East Asia countries, then manufactured into finished products for sale by chemists using solvents and carrier oils.
Detective Superintendent Niland confirmed that bikie gangs have international networks and reach when it comes to illegal drugs and importation networks.
“It’s a worrying trend that more and more of these crime gangs are transnational and they have different chapters in different countries, particularly in South East Asia,” he said.
The Queensland’s Police Taskforce Maxima, has stated that anabolic steroid seizures account for just over 50% of illegal substances confiscated by authorities in Queensland Australia.
Recently revised laws on anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), now means that steroids are categorised similarlily to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines.
Under Australian laws, a bodybuilder caught with a personal amount of anabolic steroids can be jailed for up to 15 years , whilst a steroid dealer, manufacturer or importer (on a large scale) can be sent to prison for 25 years. These are some of the most severe punishments in the world.
With steroid use exploding in Australia, as more and more young men become conscious of their bodies and image, criminal gangs have exploited this demand for large sums of cash.
Dr Terry Goldsworthy, a criminologist at Bond University, stated the ease of which steroids are now purchased for image and performance enhancement in the area
.
“So you have a lot people looking to improve their looks, to get fitter, and [steroids] can provide an easy way to achieve those goals that would otherwise be difficult to achieve,” he explained.
According to John Ikin, the Acting Regional Commander for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), steroid dealing offers an attractive illegal income for bikie gangs.
“The market for performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) presents a potential for profit, especially in places like Queensland where gyms and bodybuilding may be popular, which criminal gangs and organised syndicates are keen to take advantage of,” he said.
In the final six months of 2014, customs and border protection agents seized 3,056 packs of anabolic steroids and related drugs.
In a recent raid, police discovered 200 vials of steroids and human growth hormone (hGH) in and around Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan. It was also reported a bikie gang named Lone Wolves motorcycle club was responsible for the illegal possession.
Similar to how other underground labs (UGLs) operate, raw steroid powder is often imported from China and South East Asia countries, then manufactured into finished products for sale by chemists using solvents and carrier oils.
Detective Superintendent Niland confirmed that bikie gangs have international networks and reach when it comes to illegal drugs and importation networks.
“It’s a worrying trend that more and more of these crime gangs are transnational and they have different chapters in different countries, particularly in South East Asia,” he said.