Swedish Police have captured and interrogated 40 suspects during a series of pre-dawn raids in a massive steroid bust. Large quantities of anabolic steroids, performance enhancing drugs, and weapons were seized by Sweden’s Rikskriminalpolisen (RKP) in conjunction with police departments in Stockholm, Gävleborg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Halland. The RKP is Sweden’s National Criminal Investigation Department which is responsible for investigating major doping crimes.
The steroids were sold largely in bodybuilding and fitness circles around Stockholm; they were also distributed in various cities throughout Sweden as well as via the Internet. The Sweden Doping Act of 1991 criminalized the importation, distribution, possession and use of anabolic steroids.
The interrogated individuals were implicated as customers of a major steroid dealer who was arrested with his girlfriend in Gävleborg (Sweden) in August 2008. A search of the Gävleborg man’s computer uncovered a customer list that was thought to be the basis of today’s steroid raids (“Huge doping ring uncovered in Sweden,” October 21).
Police in several districts, along with the officials from the National Investigation Department (Rikskriminalpolisen), have been working to identify the customers of the suspects already in custody.
According to the Gefle Dagbladet (GD) newspaper, police have been pouring over data retrieved from the 51-year-old’s computer and succeeded in locating a customer registry which may have served as the basis for Tuesday’s raids and subsequent interrogations.
There’s much to suggest that this is the biggest doping scandal to have ever taken place in Sweden, said Langer.
The 51-year old steroid dealer has allegedly sold millions of kronor worth of steroids since 2004 and deposited proceeds from the sales in a Luxemborg bank account.
The Gefle Dagbladet (GD) newspaper reported that the 51-year old drove a 1993 Volvo 275. This was a shock; everyone expected him to drive the 2005 Saab 9-5 which was advertised as a Saab on Steroids!
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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