'OPERATION RAW DEAL'

The U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation Philadelphia Field Office issued the following press release:

Thomas A. Marino, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that charges have been filed against several persons in the Middle District of Pennsylvania as a result of an international investigation targeting the underground manufacture, conversion and trade of anabolic steroids and other controlled substances. The international investigation has resulted in arrests of numerous persons throughout the United States.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, nine persons have been arrested for trafficking in steroids, ketamine, GHB, ecstasy, and cocaine.

The arrests in cities across the country over the past week are the result of "Operation Raw Deal," the largest steroid enforcement action in U.S. history. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration working with federal law enforcement officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Service and others. The U.S. operation took place with enforcement operations in Mexico, Canada, China, India, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Thailand. Locally, the investigation was assisted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Bloomsburg Pennsylvania Police Department and the Kingston Pennsylvania Police Department.

Since the operation began on September 20, 2007, 143 federal search warrants were executed on targets nationwide, resulting in 124 arrests and the seizure of 56 steroid labs across the United States. In total, 11.4 million steroid dosage units were seized, as well as 242 kilograms of raw steroid powder of Chinese origin. As part of "Operation Raw Deal," $6.5 million was also seized as well as 25 vehicles, 3 boats, 27 pill presses and 71 weapons.

Criminal charges were filed this month in seven federal districts as part of "Operation Raw Deal" - by the United States Attorneys' Offices in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Southern District of California, the Southern District of New York; District of Maryland, Western District of Missouri, District of Connecticut and the District of Rhode Island. The indictments include various narcotics distribution and money laundering offenses.

"Operation Raw Deal" is a four-prong strategy focusing on: raw material manufacturers/suppliers in China and other countries; underground anabolic laboratories in the United States, Canada and Mexico; numerous U.S.-based websites distributing materials, or conversion kits, necessary to convert raw steroid powders into finished product; and internet bodybuilding discussion boards that are the catalysts for individuals to learn how to illicitly use, locate and discreetly purchase performance enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids. Many of the underground steroid labs targeted in this case advertise and are endorsed on these message boards.

In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, charges have been filed against nine persons on various drug trafficking charges. It is anticipated that additional persons will be charged.

In addition, agents from Pennsylvania participated in the execution of fourteen searches which resulted in the seizure of anabolic steroids, ketamine, black market pharmaceuticals, cocaine and ecstasy. Agents in Pennsylvania made one of the largest domestic seizures of ketamine in U.S. history with the seizure of approximately 25 kilograms of ketamine powder. More than $200,000.00 in United States currency was also seized.