An interesting read for all of you Mex shoppers

Damian Borleone · Dec 15, 2005

U.S. charges Mexican drug makers

By MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A U.S. grand jury has indicted eight Mexican drug makers on charges they sold steroids to Americans via the Internet in what the Drug Enforcement Administration said Thursday was its largest operation against suppliers of the banned substances.

Indictments in U.S. District Court in San Diego include charges against the eight companies and 11 executives after a 21-month investigation, the DEA said. The businesses sell $56 million worth of steroids to U.S. customers annually, the DEA said.

Alberto Saltiel-Cohen, described by the DEA as a Mexican citizen who owns three of the companies, was arrested in San Diego on Wednesday, the agency said.

Two people suspected of trafficking in steroids were arrested in San Diego and two others were picked up in Laredo, Texas, the DEA said.

Federal agents also have identified more than 2,000 people in the United States who bought steroids from the companies over the Internet. Importing anabolic steroids can be a felony.

"Drug traffickers prey on the belief that steroids enhance ability, but steroids only rob that ability, as we have seen so often from the affected lives of too many youth and professional athletes," DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy said.

The DEA said 82 percent of the steroids it tests in its laboratories come from Mexico. The indicted companies account for more than half the Mexican supply, it said.

According to the DEA, the steroid manufacturers tried to mask their intent by marketing their products for use in animals. The companies set up Web sites and facilitated ordering via e-mail, the DEA said.

Saltiel-Cohen's companies, Quality Vet, Denkall and Animal Power, are significant U.S. suppliers of Nandrolone, the DEA said. Quality Vet's English-language Web site indicates its products are for veterinary use only.

The other companies and their products are:

- Laboratorios Tornel, Testosterone Decanoate.

- Laboratorios Brovel, Nandrolone Decanoate.

- Pet's Pharma, Testosterone Enanthate.

- Syd Group, Stanozolol.

- Loffler, Methandrostenolone

Damian Borleone · Dec 15, 2005

a better read...

**broken link removed**

wow, front page of the dea's website

draven · Dec 15, 2005

hmmm...

Im curious to see what mexican laws are pertaining to gear? We can now charge companies with felonies and forefeiture act w/o being on US soil?

xcelbeyond · Dec 15, 2005

draven said:
Im curious to see what mexican laws are pertaining to gear? We can now charge companies with felonies and forefeiture act w/o being on US soil?

My thoughts exactly?!?

Tills · Dec 15, 2005

What a GIANT waste of resources! I hope the politicians are happy...

A50# · Dec 15, 2005

This cant be good for the mexican market.

Damian Borleone · Dec 15, 2005

here's more info...

Steroid crackdown results in indictments in U.S. and Mexico

By Karen Kucher
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

2:26 p.m. December 15, 2005

SAN DIEGO – Federal officials on Thursday announced the indictments of 23 people and eight Mexico-based manufacturers of anabolic steroids on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
The indictments are the result of a two-year investigation, dubbed "Operation Gear Grinder," that targeted Mexican companies that prosecutors say are responsible for more than 80 percent of the performance-enhancing anabolic steroids that are illegally smuggled into the United States.

John S. Fernandes, the top Drug Enforcement Administration agent in San Diego, said the operation was the largest steroid enforcement operation in U.S. history and that it should greately diminish the supply of anabolic steroids sold illegally in the United States.

Five of those indicted were arrested Wednesday in the United States and were to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in federal courts in San Diego and in Texas. A federal grand jury returned the indictments in September, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Harrigan, chief of the San Diego office's criminal division.

The others have not been arrested; most of them are in Mexico. Harrigan said U.S. officials will be working with Mexican officials to try to detain and extradite the remaining individuals charged under the indictment.

Federal prosecutors also are seeking the forfeiture of at least $15 million they say are the proceeds from illegal drug trafficking by the companies.

One of those arrested was a Mexican veterinarian, Dr. Alberto Saltiel Cohen, identified as a majority owner of the Quality Vet, Denkall and Animal Power companies. The U.S. Attorney's Office said his three companies was the largest Mexican manufacturer of anabolic steroids, and were responsible for more than 75 percent of all the Mexican steroids seized in the United States.

Prosecutors say the steroids were largely marketed through the Internet.

Although company and distributor Web sites boasted photos of dogs and cats, Harrigan said the steroids are manufactured in packaging and strengths that have no legitimate veterinary use and were intended for human use.

Products were offered in liquid and pill forms and either were smuggled across the border or sent through the mail. Steroids also were sold in veterinary stores located in border cities and in tourist areas such as Cancun, Harrigan said.

Since 1991, anabolic steroids have been listed as a schedule III controlled substance in the United States. Illegal steroids often are taken or injected by athletes and body builders to enhance performance, but their use can cause serious health problems or even death.

"This is the poison that is on the Internet that is available to anyone who turns their computers on," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Coughlin, who is to be prosecuting the cases.

The investigation identified more than 2,000 U.S. customers of the steroids, including body builders, athletes and other users.

"We have severed the supply and distribution" of steroids, he said.

MikeS · Dec 15, 2005

Damien,
Man, havent heard from you in ages. Cool that you are still around.
Thanks for the (rotten) news. What do you think the overall effect may be?

Man why the fuck must we police the entire world to fit our high fucking morality? Im sure our fucking gov has plenty to do with IPs troubles in China.
And certainly with the future changing laws over there. mostly because of the Olympics being held in Beiging. That absolutely is terrible news for us all, as most know the raw materials come directly and exclusevely from China. God damnit, dont we have anything better to worry about?

draven · Dec 16, 2005

fuck...

someone with a bit more intelligence on international law , in laymens terms tell me how are laws transcend borders now? I am really interested in this as I cant see Mexican authorities coming up here and arresting people that sold illegal goods in mexico. Fuck I was just there and smoked a cohiba from Cuba wonder if im being watched...? This is ridiculous ---and not cause we use gear either,---- its the erosion of everything this constitution was founded on....Bush, Clinton ,Kerry, any of them , its all the same .....we all want change but still less than 50% votes in this country. The system is heavily flawed and need repair... Justice, the senate, house, supreme court, no more full time politicians or life judges its a mess.

Mr.Huge · Dec 16, 2005

Holy blast from the past...

Is this the one and only Damien Borleone? The original gangsta? Pablos Escobar days Damien? Like from back in 1996-1997 or so? If so wow is all I can say.. hit me up via PM or email

[email protected]

STEVO 47 · Dec 16, 2005

Son of a bitch. Cyber f....ckin task force. What about a task force
for these child porography web sites, and bastard Pedafiles. I guess
there's no money in that shit!!!!

Armageddon · Dec 16, 2005

What about some of our sponsors? And people getting there goods.

Maverick · Dec 16, 2005

Dan Duchaine is rolling over in his grave as we speak!!!!

Mav

Steak Helmet · Dec 16, 2005

Yeah I am curious too...how are some of the locals going to handle this?? Prces going up??
not even going to carry items anymore??

This is a serious shitter...

Maybe this will calm their ass down and lay off...and make them think??? Or they could have just fueled their egos and now are going to charge forward 110%???

either way times are getting shitty

Chuck999 · Dec 16, 2005

Amerika

I'm a lawyer with a significant fed background. (Many years ago, and I'll leave out the details, but some of the "oldtimers" around here, like MikeS and Xcel know about my background). The answer is real simple. The US has basically made US law into world law. Not through any specific legal mechanism, but just through plan old power. Economic and military. Countries like Mexico dance to the tune the US gov plays on things like this. I have a friend in Australia who had to shut down a perfectly legal business (in Australia) because the US gov wanted him shut down. "1984" as a year came and went awhile back (about the time I first used "supplements") but in a real sense it is here. Most American citizens don't even realize what has happened. The Patriot Act, for example, has basically turned America into "Amerika". Believe it, its here.

On the other hand, the laws of supply and demand are powerful. They make a big spash with something like this, get lots of publicity, and some convictions. There may be some supply problems for awhile, but I guarentee the "demand" will be filled. Prohibition never worked, any more than the laws on "real" drugs work. (And don't get the idea that I approve of that shit, it destroys a lot of lives, but the current method of locking people up and throwing away the key just makes money for the huge business infrastructure that profits off of it).

The real motivation for the laws and pressure against steroids is money. And that basically means the big money behind sports. Olympics, pro sports, etc. As long as there's not too much public attention on it, they could care less. But if the public realizes that almost every single major athelte at the professional and olympic level, and major college sports, and on down, has to do juice just to keep up with the other guys, they are afraid that the public will decide it's all just about who has the best steroid doc or whatever. And they are afraid that will then affect the public interest in sports, and MONEY will be lost. That's it. That is where the 1991 law making steroids a controlled substance came from, and pandering to those big business interests is where stuff like this Mexico deal came from. Rick talks about some of this stuff in his book, and he and I have had several long talks about all this. Read his book - he lays it out. The real scary stuff is where this country really is - we are right now, an honest to god police state. The "average" person doesn't see it or have to deal with it much, but as time goes on it will just get worse as the noose tightens.

Anyway, sorry to be so pesimestic, and sorry for the "rant", but I deal with courts, public opinon, and politics a lot in my professional life. It's real, and it's here.

phreak · Dec 16, 2005

i never ordered off a website- i have always been fortunate enough to not have to. it sucks to see QV go away like this; i really liked the bang for the buck factor.

what's most shocking to me are all the assholes who used credit cards to order their gear. what must be going through their minds right now?

Steak Helmet · Dec 16, 2005

WEll I guess the UG's are going to be upping prices

looks like we are going back into hiding???

be safe everyone...

zephyr22 · Dec 16, 2005

I must say...

This is bad news for a lot of people. I think they have been watching the Mexican seen for a while now. The DEA knows much more than most think. I guess what I dont understand is it is legal in Mexico. Like some others have said when did Mexico adopt U.S. laws???? I think that is just stupid to have the Mexican Vet that created QV, AP etc...Imprisoned for laws that do not pertain to him in his country. I could see if he was doing something illegal in the USA but he is a citizen of Mexico. Heck he could have just been on Vacation in the US. Say an american buys something illegal in Mexico and brings it over to the U.S. border and successfully smuggles it back. Now does the U.S. have the right to prosecute the buisness that sold it to him??? Heck if thats the case I guess those guys selling Imitation "Oakley" sunglasses and imitation "rolex" watches are going to go to the slammer next. This is far from over. I dont know when they will move on to something else???

woody00 · Dec 16, 2005

does this mean no more QV, tornell, denkell etc..???

Pushinw8s · Dec 16, 2005

Not good!

This is definitely not good. They went straight to the manufacturer. "Nip it at the bud" so to speak. I have a bad feeling this is just the beginning. This has all been coming to a head with Major League Baseball and the congressional hearings and all of the press this topic has been getting. Better start stocking up while you can for the next year or maybe two, until things die down, and they move on to something else. Bastards.....