'Roid Raid: DEA Wraps Massive Steroid Probe

[ArnoldIsMyIdol]

After a recent series of raids uncovered illegally produced steroids by the barrel full, ABC News has learned that the alleged underground labs might have had as many as 30,000 to 40,000 customers.
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'Roid Raid: DEA Wraps Massive Steroid Probe

The Drug Enforcement Administration says it has identified those alleged clients of the thriving multi-million-dollar black market industry through e-mails and credit card purchase records obtained during the course of the investigation.

Law enforcement agents discovered steroids, human growth hormone and other drugs at 56 clandestine labs across the United States as part of a two-year operation that culminated with a massive sweep earlier this fall. Officials say the caches could have supplied more than 11 million individual doses of the drugs.

Additionally, investigators say they seized $6.5 million during the operation.


"People are using this stuff in huge amounts, and other people are making a lot of money on that abuse," DEA spokesman Rusty Payne told ABC News.

"We see in an investigation like this how much money can be made," he said. "That's the motivation for what these people are doing."

Dealers utilized underground Web sites, chat rooms and message boards to market the steroids. The drugs were typically bought online, by credit card, and then mailed or shipped to the buyer's home.

'Athletes at Every Level'

Authorities said the goal of steroid users is often simple -- to gain a competitive advantage.
Video

Largest Steroid Raid Ever

"I think you have a lot of weekend warriors, a lot of body builders," Payne said of typical steroid users, but there are also "athletes at every level -- professional, college, high school."

"High school girls are taking steroids now to look better, to get more tone -- in some cases, to get that athletic edge as well," he added.

And steroid traffickers often don't fit the profile of the stereotypical drug dealer. Last March in East Hanover, Pa. police arrested a body builder who also served as a volunteer football coach for a local high school for illegally manufacturing steroids.

ABC News: Steroid Sting Unveils Epidemic of Abuse

 

[pudzian2]

It's just annoying becuase even the reporter's who say all this, follow up their day at work with some monday night football. They are enjoying entertainment based on guys taking GH and Test, either on their own, or within the team network. It's everywhere! every sport...they will always be there. I do NOT think they are a bad thing. How many people have died specifically from steroid use? slim to none? I mean even hollywood actors and actresses probably use performance enhancers for movies or whatever. In the end, is the guy who keeps to himself, uses, and just tries to accomplish his goal really deserving federal punishment>>? I guess so..laws are laws.,

 

[richirich_99]

could agree with ya more pudzain! Nicely said!

 

[beebab]

steroids are only a target of media frenzy because of the dumbass celebrity athletes who use and abuse them and hurt if not kill themselves in the process. but even in most of these cases, these users don't strictly die from steroid abuse but rather from a bevy of other pre-existing conditions that the steroids exacerbate. yes, different steroids come with the potential for different side effects. but this is the price we pay and the risk we take to reap the benefits of different products. if you "choose" to use anabolic steroids, then you must be well-researched on the chemical nature of these compounds, the pros/cons to using different hormones, the potency of different compounds when it comes to liver/ lipid profiles, androgenic sides, etc. and obviously, if you have a genetic or otherwise pre-diagnosed condition that could become severely aggravated by use of anabolic steroids, you must consult your physician about what it is you want to do and assess how your body would respond to use of the drugs.

athletes who abuse steroids without any knowledge of how they work within the body are severely cheating themselves and are unnecessarily giving steroids a negative reputation for being deadly chemicals that "will kill you," perhaps the biggest most inane steroid myth (of which there are many). the public sees an athlete like Chris Benoit die and immediately steroid abuse and overdose is the culprit. BUT, he had a mental disorder did he not? and steroids are meant to instill sensations of euphoria as exogenous hormones amplify the effects of testosterone in the body. steroids will not make you plunge into a state of manic depression and go homicidal and suicidal.

to date, there are really no documented cases of death purely from steroid use. at least that i know of. steroids will not help you live longer, obviously. but if used properly and in an educated manner, will not and should not hinder your longevity, well-being, etc. today's society of steroid users are very well informed and I think it's time both the media and the government realize this and trust people to make responsible decisions based on their own choosing.

 

[pudzian2]

steroids are only a target of media frenzy because of the dumbass celebrity athletes who use and abuse them and hurt if not kill themselves in the process. but even in most of these cases, these users don't strictly die from steroid abuse but rather from a bevy of other pre-existing conditions that the steroids exacerbate. yes, different steroids come with the potential for different side effects. but this is the price we pay and the risk we take to reap the benefits of different products. if you "choose" to use anabolic steroids, then you must be well-researched on the chemical nature of these compounds, the pros/cons to using different hormones, the potency of different compounds when it comes to liver/ lipid profiles, androgenic sides, etc. and obviously, if you have a genetic or otherwise pre-diagnosed condition that could become severely aggravated by use of anabolic steroids, you must consult your physician about what it is you want to do and assess how your body would respond to use of the drugs.

athletes who abuse steroids without any knowledge of how they work within the body are severely cheating themselves and are unnecessarily giving steroids a negative reputation for being deadly chemicals that "will kill you," perhaps the biggest most inane steroid myth (of which there are many). the public sees an athlete like Chris Benoit die and immediately steroid abuse and overdose is the culprit. BUT, he had a mental disorder did he not? and steroids are meant to instill sensations of euphoria as exogenous hormones amplify the effects of testosterone in the body. steroids will not make you plunge into a state of manic depression and go homicidal and suicidal.

to date, there are really no documented cases of death purely from steroid use. at least that i know of. steroids will not help you live longer, obviously. but if used properly and in an educated manner, will not and should not hinder your longevity, well-being, etc. today's society of steroid users are very well informed and I think it's time both the media and the government realize this and trust people to make responsible decisions based on their own choosing.

THink of it more like this:

Testosterone and HGH are like fountains of youth. Obviously, once we figured this out, and anti-aging clinics started becomming popular it has become near-common knowledge. THESE ARE THE SAME CHEMICALS that the media and general public say KILL PEOPLE. I THINK NOT. long term ignorance of steroid or any drug induced side effects can cause health problems and or eventual death. Example: someone who uses AAS for longer periods of time with a lesser medical approach than someone else, probably doesnt do blood work, and doesnt realize that his LDL to HDL ratio is unhealthy, so eventually he gets a heart problem or a cholesterol problem. this happens to peopel that have hereditary predisposition, or maybe eat junk food and sit on their asses. BUT, in this case people blame steroids.

Of course other AAS and PH's (derivatives or precursers to derivatives of Testosterone) have different possibilities for side effects, but nothing that isn't managable with responsible use. and with a proactive appraoch to monitoring one's health.

To a certain degree, it's best to be your own doctor.

 

[AM07]

Big pharma is to blame for many banned substances on this planet.

 

[pudzian2]

Big pharma is to blame for many banned substances on this planet.

and that is becuase they can charge 450 $$$ for exemestane when we can pay a third of that for research purposes.

its all about $$$$

 

[AM07]

its all about $$$$

Isn't that what life is all about though for most people? We're always looking for the college degrees, or better jobs so we can make more money. Always looking to save money, or invest money into things that will help yield more money. So in fact, we're not much different from big pharma, other than the fact they make billions of dollars and have a lot of political influence.

 

[pudzian2]

Isn't that what life is all about though for most people? We're always looking for the college degrees, or better jobs so we can make more money. Always looking to save money, or invest money into things that will help yield more money. So in fact, we're not much different from big pharma, other than the fact they make billions of dollars and have a lot of political influence.

Agreed. It's not so much the money that makes us happy. But without it we couldnt afford the lifestyles and luxuries that do.

 

[dirtydean12]

"High school girls are taking steroids now to look better, to get more tone -- in some cases, to get that athletic edge as well," he added.

o'rly??