Arrest of members of a criminal organization trafficking steroids

The criminal organization has been trafficking and stockpiling anabolic steroids since at least 2019. Two people were arrested by the police.

The Economic Police Directorate dismantled a criminal organization whose members were active in the production and trafficking of illegal anabolic substances and other pharmaceutical preparations in Greece and abroad. 380,000 tablets and 104 kg of raw materials were confiscated.

In order to dismantle the organization, a coordinated police operation was carried out in the morning hours of Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in the Attica regions, during which two people accused – as the case may be – of the criminal organization were arrested. Violating sports legislation, forgery, harmful drugs, and theft, while the case file includes 2 others.

It was preceded by an investigation lasting several months, with the assistance of Europol, the National Medicines Agency and the National Anti-Doping Agency, during which the existence of a criminal organization emerged, whose members, At least as of 2019, he was active in the manufacture and supply of banned anabolic substances For athletes, professional or non-professional, in order to improve their athletic performance.

By utilizing and analyzing the evidence of the case, the following is revealed:

• Managed a fully equipped pharmaceutical production laboratory, as well as a suitably designed packaging area, in the home of the leading member.
• They counterfeited pharmaceutical products of branded companies, using all the materials needed to look authentic (holograms, instruction sheets, EOF authentication tapes).
• Illegal preparations were also sold to treat side effects (erectile dysfunction, etc.)
• Equipment and raw materials were supplied from European and Asian countries,
• The illegal preparations were smuggled within the country but also abroad, through their two websites.

By searching homes, businesses, vehicles, etc., the following were found and confiscated:

• Complete equipment for the production and packaging of pharmaceutical preparations,
• More than 380,000 tablets – ampoules containing anabolic substances and other illegal medical substances,
• More than 104 kg of raw materials,
• A variety of packaging materials (boxes, ampoules, plastic containers, instruction sheets, holograms, labels, etc.) and
• 2630 euros.

In addition, searches of the main member’s home revealed special equipment used for cryptocurrency mining, which was supported by energy theft. The estimated illegal financial benefit they will obtain from the sale of the confiscated items exceeds €2,500,000. The arrested persons were transferred to the competent prosecution and referred to the investigator.