Steroid Smuggling Costs Australian Man $11,000

A 56-year-old Kuranda man has been ordered to pay $11 000 for importing steroids following a Customs investigation. Naturopath David Stanton Highman was found guilty in the Cairns Magistrates Court of importing prohibited goods under section 233B(1)b of the Customs Act 1901 and possession of prohibited goods contrary to s233(1)d of the Customs Act 1901.

He was penalized $7500 and ordered to pay $3586 in court costs.

The Customs investigation began on 12 March 2007 when Customs officers at the Sydney international mail centre intercepted a package marked as food supplements addressed to Mr Highman.

The parcel was examined and found to contain thirty-six bottles labeled as DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).

DHEA is an androgenic steroid that cannot be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Each bottle contained 120 capsules with 100mg of DHEA in each capsule.

As a result of this detection Customs investigators executed search and seizure warrants on Mr Highman’s residence in Kuranda on 22 March 2007.

A further 42 bottles containing a total of 116.9 grams of active ingredient DHEA were found at the premises.

Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said that this penalty sent a signal to the public that steroid smuggling was a serious offense.

“Australia has strict border controls for steroids. Customs officers remain ever-vigilant to ensure that the illegal importation of steroids is detected and where appropriate investigated and prosecuted.”

“Air and postal cargo, which is favored by smugglers of such goods is subject to a very high level of scrutiny, and physical inspection by Customs. This results in a high level of protection for Australia against the import of such goods ,” Mr Janeczko said.

Source: Customs Service

Net News Publisher for World News

Rate this:

2.5