Washington, DC - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated in a nationwide series of enforcement actions led by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) targeting every level of the global underground trade of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, the vast majority of which are manufactured and trafficked from underground labs in China.
Operation Cyber Juice comprised of over 30 different U.S. investigations in 20 states and resulted in the arrest of over 90 individuals, the seizure of 16 underground steroid labs, approximately 134,000 steroid dosage units, 636 kilograms of raw steroid powder, 8,200 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid, and over $2 million in U.S. currency and assets. In addition, the law enforcement agencies assisted in foreign steroid investigations in four countries coordinated by Europol.
In Arizona alone, Operation Cyber Juice investigations yielded the seizure of four underground steroid conversion labs, the seizure of nearly 150,000 dosage units of finished product, 121 pounds of raw steroid powder, 22 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid, and over $300,000 in U.S. currency and assets.
Often found in these underground steroid labs are finished steroid product, raw steroid powder, oils needed for steroid conversion to a finished product, conversion kits, and other lab equipment. These products are commonly obtained via the internet from Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and underground labs.
“Too many young people are ruining their lives and damaging their bodies from steroid abuse,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “Through Operation Cyber Juice, DEA is attacking the global underground steroid market, exposing its danger and lies.”
“This multi-agency collaboration sends a strong message to those who traffic in illegal and dangerous performance-enhancing drugs,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Peter T. Edge, “There’s no question that our joint efforts among HSI, DEA and Interpol targeting a very significant drug distribution network will have a huge impact on the distribution of illegal steroids and other dangerous performance-enhancing drugs in the United States.”
Throughout Operation Cyber Juice, DEA and its law enforcement partners worked closely with both U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency, receiving actionable intelligence that resulted in many of these investigations. This vision was to utilize law enforcement, anti-doping resources, and intelligence, to assist in furtherance of their respective efforts. In addition, Europol analysts were collecting information and providing leads to participating countries for further investigation.
