The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has notified law enforcement agencies around the country to be on the look out for anabolic steroids in Eco Oils packages that purported contain indian aromatherapy oils. In the April 2008 issue of the DEA’s Microgram Bulletin to law enforcement “forensic scientists concerned with the detection and analyses of suspected controlled substances,” the DEA reports on the first encounter of this type of steroid packaging by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory system.
The suspect in the case admitted to steroid abuse and indicated that the package actually contained “Sustanon” (which is a steroid cocktail containing the following testosterone esters: Propionate 30 milligrams, phenylpropionate 60 milligrams, isocaproate 60 milligrams, and decanoate 100 milligrams). The package markings included the website “821.in,” and indicated that the contents were Indian Aromatherapy Oils. The oil fluoresced when concentrated sulfuric acid was added and the resulting mixture was subjected to UV irradiation. Analysis of a methanol extract of the oil (total net volume 3.1 milliliters) by GC/MS confirmed testosterone propionate, cypionate, and decanoate in an approximate 4 : 3 : 1 ratio based on the TIC. The results indicated that the oil was not actually “Sustanon,” but rather a substitute or mimic steroid cocktail.
It is surprising that it has taken law enforcement so long to take notice of the sachet packaging. After all, they have been openly and widely discussed on various mainstream bodybuilding forums and popular steroid forums for almost two years. The existence of steroid sachets have largely remained a secret to most law enforcement officials. The DEA alert across agencies could likely make law enforcement more vigilant to this type of packaging in the future.
The Eco Oils sachets have been widely distributed since the summer of 2006 with information websites (originally at EcoOils.net and 821.in). The website URL 821.in was listed on the sachets and provided information about the alleged aromatherapy oil ingredients including Lavender oil, Euclaptus, Pogostemum Patchouli, Rosemarinus. Steroid users could find information about the steroid ingredients at the website EcoOils.net (with identical information now appearing at Eco-Oils.net). The line of anabolic steroids distributed by Eco Oils included nandrolone decanoate, trenbolone acetate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthanate, dromastolone propionate, testoserone propionate, boldenone undeclaynate, methenolone enanthate, trenbolone enanthate, nandrolone undecanoate, sustanon, nandrolone mix, nandrolone phenylpropionate and boldenone mix.
As early as 2006, steroid experts like William Llewellyn (author of Anabolics 2007 and Body of Science) and others had already submitted samples of the Eco Oils sachets to San Rafael Chemical Services (before the DEA raided SRCS and subsequently prevented them from analyzing anabolic steroid samples). The lab analyses confirmed that the products contained ingredients and dosages that closely approximated what was advertised on their website.
In the aftermath of the British Dragon and Redicat steroid bust in Thailand, steroid sources in the Southeast Asian country continue to face disruptions in their steroid distribution efforts (”Customs uncover ‘huge’ steroids stash,” April 1).
More than 2000 vials of a banned steroid have been found by Customs officials inside a parcel sent to Sydney from Thailand.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the steroid seizure by customs in February has resulted in ongoing steroid busts in Sydney Australia (”Steroids found in Thai parcel: customs,” April 1).
Customs officers at Australia Post’s Gateway Facility in Sydney found the 2,378 ampoules of Sustanon 250, Stanozol and Nandrolone in plastic bags after examining a parcel from Thailand said to contain glass figures…
After finding the drugs in the mail on February 19, Customs investigators executed search warrants on premises in south-western Sydney last Friday and seized evidentiary material.
Investigations into the major steroid seizure are continuing.
Customs national manager for investigations, Richard Janezcko, said the agency was “continuing to detect and investigate increased attempts to smuggle prohibited and restricted performance enhancing drugs into Australia”.
Australia’s war on steroids is one of the most aggressive in the world, perhaps even more draconian than the efforts by the United States.
