The proprietor of Illusion Labs, a formerly popular Canadian underground steroid lab (UGL), is going to trial in Bridgewater provincial court on January 12-14, 2009 as part of Operation Scott Free which targeted Illusion Labs and its customers. Kevin Wayne Tanner faces various charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act that including importing, smuggling, possession, exporting, producing and trafficking anabolic steroids (”Trial time shortened in internet steroids case,” December 2).
Mr. Tanner, 40, faces charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Customs Act and the Food and Drug Act involving raw hormones, steroids and counteracting drugs he was allegedly importing, producing and selling over the internet.
Authorities are also alleging that his home, a car, an investment account and cash seized are proceeds of his crimes.
Investigators found what they estimated to be $400,000 worth of steroids, raw hormone products, lab equipment and $46,000 cash when they searched Mr. Tanner’s Elm Street home in late January 2007.
They allege he used a series of false names, fake addresses, postal outlets and courier companies to buy raw hormone products from China over the internet, which he then processed into anabolic steroids in a lab set up in a spare bedroom in his home and sold to customers across Canada and the United States.
Authorities found 21 types of steroids and four drugs to counteract the side effects of steroid use during the probe. They say Mr. Tanner promoted the sale of his products, under the name Illusion Laboratories, in internet chat rooms and on message boards.
Kevin Tanner was busted as a result of a 15-month investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Bridgewater Police. The investigation originated with the discovery of raw steroid power by CBSA entering Canada from China in April 2005 evenutally resulting in the Nova Scotia steroid bust on January 22, 2007 where an operational steroid lab was discovered in an upstairs bedroom. Operation Scott Free continued to investigate 200 to 300 customers of Illusion Labs in Canada as well as the United States Read more
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Drug Section seized over 2 kilograms of anabolic steroid powder at a residence in Prince George, British Columbia on Halloween. A joint operation between the Prince George RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency uncovered the steroid powder coming into Canada from China. The recipient of the Chinese steroid powder faces various drug distribution charges including the importation of a controlled substance (anabolic steroids) into Canada (”Police execute Halloween drug bust,” November 1).
In the past two weeks alone, law enforcement in British Columbia has arrested individuals for importing and/or distributing anabolic steroids in Victoria, North Vancouver, and now Prince George. Are the recent steroid busts a harbinger of a major steroid crackdown in British Columbia in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games? The privilege of hosting the Olympic Games is usually accompanied by increased pressure on the host city (and host country) to step up their anti-doping efforts via law enforcement.
Jason Trahan and Gary Jacobson of the Dallas Morning News continue their excellent coverage of the federal steroid investigation in North Texas with a review of the rise and fall of one of the largest steroid distribution ring in the country.
The review article profiles steroid dealer David Jacobs and his introduction to anabolic steroids, his integration into the bodybuilding scene, his networking with pro football players, his decision to import and manufacture anabolic steroids, his steroid bust, the dismantling of the Texas steroid network, and his ostracism from the bodybuilding community (”Plano resident’s steroid distribution ring was one of the largest in U.S.,” April 24).
I recommend reading the complete article for a better understanding of the chronology and scope of the Texas steroid investigation. Below are a few excerpts.
David Jacobs’ decision to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids:
At Lewisville Lake’s Party Cove one weekend, he met his first pro bodybuilder, Art Atwood. The two became friends, and Mr. Atwood helped train the up-and-coming rookie.
Both men were taking steroids, but were unhappy with shoddy Mexican imports.
Mr. Jacobs went online and found a solution: recipes for steroids using raw Chinese powder. Mr. Jacobs soon parlayed his knowledge of Asia, gleaned during his Nokia business trips, into contacts with English-speaking middlemen to the Chinese steroid powder factories.
Sloppy packaging that led to steroid bust:
On March 19, 2007, the United Parcel Service intercepted a soggy package sent from Mr. Jacobs’ Plano home, bound for Wichita, Kan. When officials opened the box, they found a broken glass vial of what turned out to be steroids.
Authorities arrested the man in Kansas who had ordered steroids from Mr. Jacobs, court documents say. Jamie Mongeau, an amateur bodybuilder, told investigators that Mr. Jacobs was his supplier.
Ostracism from bodybuilding community:
Brian Dobson, owner of Arlington’s MetroFlex gym, which produced eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and where Mr. Jacobs used to train with other bodybuilding friends, said that since his bust, Mr. Jacobs has been ostracized by the bodybuilding community he once serviced.
“A lot of people hate him,” Mr. Dobson said. “To a lot of the other guys who were his buddies, once he got caught, he became the black plague.”
The full text of the article is available on the Dallas Morning News website.
Jesse Abundiz aka Wickedone, the owner of Morning Star Labs, was arrested on March 1, 2008 and charged with possession with intent to distribute 9,468,.24 grams of anabolic steroids. Abundiz purchased medical grade laboratory equipment to set up an underground steroid lab in his mother’s Las Vegas home.
The investigation began 19 months ago when the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol notified the FBI and DEA that Abundiz was using a post office box in Sacramento to receive anabolic steroid powders from China. In December 2007, a search warrant was executed on his mother’s home where the operational underground lab was discovered.
At the residence, investigators apparently found an “operational underground steroid lab” containing controlled substances and lab equipment with a street value of roughly $1 million, the FBI said.
Vials, syringes, beakers, medical-grade vacuum pumps, butte stoppers, label makers and labels reading “Morning StarLabs” reportedly were recovered.
About 400,000 dosage units, or roughly 11 kilograms of controlled substances that included anabolic steroid powders, were recovered at the residence, according to the FBI.
It is unclear whether his mother will be charged or if additional conspiracy charges will be added.
