The proprietor of Illusion Labs, a formerly popular Canadian underground steroid lab (UGL), is going to trial in Bridgewater provincial court on January 12-14, 2009 as part of Operation Scott Free which targeted Illusion Labs and its customers. Kevin Wayne Tanner faces various charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act that including importing, smuggling, possession, exporting, producing and trafficking anabolic steroids (“Trial time shortened in internet steroids case,” December 2).
Mr. Tanner, 40, faces charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Customs Act and the Food and Drug Act involving raw hormones, steroids and counteracting drugs he was allegedly importing, producing and selling over the internet.
Authorities are also alleging that his home, a car, an investment account and cash seized are proceeds of his crimes.
Investigators found what they estimated to be $400,000 worth of steroids, raw hormone products, lab equipment and $46,000 cash when they searched Mr. Tanner’s Elm Street home in late January 2007.
They allege he used a series of false names, fake addresses, postal outlets and courier companies to buy raw hormone products from China over the internet, which he then processed into anabolic steroids in a lab set up in a spare bedroom in his home and sold to customers across Canada and the United States.
Authorities found 21 types of steroids and four drugs to counteract the side effects of steroid use during the probe. They say Mr. Tanner promoted the sale of his products, under the name Illusion Laboratories, in internet chat rooms and on message boards.
Kevin Tanner was busted as a result of a 15-month investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Bridgewater Police. The investigation originated with the discovery of raw steroid power by CBSA entering Canada from China in April 2005 evenutally resulting in the Nova Scotia steroid bust on January 22, 2007 where an operational steroid lab was discovered in an upstairs bedroom. Operation Scott Free continued to investigate 200 to 300 customers of Illusion Labs in Canada as well as the United States (“Steroid pipeline plugged,” March 14, 2007).
The investigation is ongoing, but officials say so far they’ve traced sales to between 200 and 300 customers, primarily in Canada, but also in the United States. They’re still trying to determine if any customers were buying in larger quantities for resale. […]
“We’re still working with other police agencies and our partners trying to track down who they were going to and the extent of it,” Mr. MacDonald said.
Kevin Wayne Tanner faces penalties of up to $500,000 and 5 years in prison for charges related to violations of the Customs Act and penalties of up to three years in prison for charges related to violations of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
While the steroid manufacturing and distribution charges seem serious, Tanner goes to court in February 3, 2009 to defend himself against charges of child pornography that was allegedly discovered on his computer during the steroid bust.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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