KEY POINTS
- A 27-year-old suspect was arrested in Paarl, Western Cape, after police uncovered an illegal steroid manufacturing laboratory.
- A national crackdown is underway, with several suspects arrested in Pretoria for distributing illicit steroids and methamphetamine-related substances online.
- Authorities warn of the dangers of unregulated performance-enhancing drugs, as syndicates continue to use online platforms and clandestine labs to distribute them.
Law enforcement authorities in South Africa have intensified their fight against illegal drug manufacturing after uncovering a clandestine laboratory producing steroids in Paarl, Western Cape.
A 27-year-old suspect was arrested following the discovery, which was made during a joint operation between the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
The operation was the result of a year-long investigation that began in January 2023, when authorities received intelligence about steroids being couriered from Franschhoek and distributed to various recipients. Acting on this information, law enforcement intercepted several parcels suspected to contain illicit substances.
“The parcels were intercepted and sent to the laboratory for testing, of which the report came back positive. Two suspects were identified, and further investigation was conducted,” said Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi.
A Sophisticated Underground Operation
Following extensive surveillance, investigators identified the premises where the steroids were being manufactured. Upon securing a search and seizure warrant, authorities raided the property and found it fully operational.
“A search and seizure operation was authorised and conducted. During the search, pressing, sorting, and labelling machines, scales, and ovens were discovered. Moreover, powder and suspected Schedule 4 medicines were also found. The value of the steroids is yet to be determined,” Vukubi added.
Schedule 4 medicines, which include anabolic steroids and other controlled substances, require a doctor’s prescription due to their potential for abuse and serious health risks. The presence of such substances in an illicit manufacturing setting underscores the growing underground market for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in South Africa.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Paarl Magistrates’ Court soon on charges relating to the illegal production, possession, and distribution of unauthorized pharmaceutical substances. Vukubi also confirmed that more arrests are expected as authorities pursue further leads in the investigation.
