Multi million euro importation of illegal steroids into Spain discovered by Guardia Civil

IN an investigation which started in Palma, 41 people have been arrested for the illegal importation and sale of banned substances estimated as being worth €2 million.

Officers of the Guardia Civil discovered that a gymnasium in Palma de Mallorca was selling various banned drugs including anabolic steroids which are considered damaging to the health of those who use them.

Based on information gathered from this first investigation, officers realised that the importation and sale of the drugs was much greater than first expected and although many of the items came into Spain via Portugal, they were actually being obtained from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and the United States.

Generally, the items were smuggled into Spain in vehicles which had false floors and were then distributed to gyms and sports outlets in the Balearics particularly Mallorca, Barcelona and the Canaries as well as the provinces of Almeria, Huelva, Malaga, Tarragona, and Toledo.

In all, the investigators believe that between 2016 and 2017, the gang had imported 4,400 parcels with a weight of approximately 3.1 tons, which earned them around €2 million.

Payment for the banned substances was made in cash and in one intercepted parcel officers found €80,000 hidden in printer cartridges that were destined for Greece.

After 45 different raids on properties, officers seized a huge volume of these illegal drugs as well as €180,000 in cash, five luxury vehicles, narcotics and a number of weapons.