By Karen Kucher
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
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 were 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.
