Recently, attempts to smuggle anabolic steroid through airports were foiled by customs officers. There are two similar cases reported in major news agencies, one is from the Southwest Florida International Airport and another case in Abu Dhabi International Airport. Although owners of these controlled substances told the authorities that it is for their personal use, they still lack the necessary documents for these drugs. The case in Abu Dhabi is really a smuggling activity since it was misdeclared in the bill of lading.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents of Southwest Florida International Airport seized anabolic steroids from a German national who arrived at the airport last Tuesday. The agents searched the bag of Francesco Gigliotti, 45, of Cologne, Germany and they found a container of Deca-Durabolin, 250 milligrams of Testosterone Enanthate, two plastic syringes and four hypodermic needles.

Gigliotti which is residing at 338 SE 32nd Terrace Cape Coral will be facing five felony charges. These includes two counts of possessing felony drugs, steroids and testosterone; two counts of smuggling steroids; and one count of possessing drug paraphernalia.

In Abu Dhabi, custom officials and health inspectors were able to seized 33,000 steroid injections which were believed to be sold to bodybuilders. The suspects did not declare the items instead the containers were declared as containing clothes, fabrics and some medicines for personal use. The inspectors found the smuggled items when three people claiming to work for a fabric importing company asked for clearance for a container. They found a large quantity of a controlled hormonal drug in the form of injections. According to health officials, the drugs were manufactured in Bulgaria and may have been counterfeit. With the quantity of steroids, they believed that it is intended for sale and not for personal use. There was no sign of any clothes or fabric as what has been declared in the documents.

The executive director for medical practices and licensing at the Ministry of Health, Amin al Amiri said that the misleading behaviour of the suspects was fraudulent and liable to legal prosecution. “Having resorted to deceit and forgery in its bill of lading, the company concerned must be subject to the pertinent legal procedures,” Amiri said. The types of anabolic steroids that they found out were “androgens” which are widely used among bodybuilders.

According to Amiri, these androgens are indeed the most dangerous form of doping, as they have a rapid boosting effect on muscle volume and body stimulation. “Men and women use them despite their dangers and side-effects, namely, hormonal imbalance leading to aggressive tendencies,” he added.

Amiri also told the National that those medications are illegal and not registered in the country and he further attest that the medication was counterfeit. “These people want to gain money illegally. The medicine is used in bodybuilder clubs to increase muscles and for illegal practices. It is dangerous because medications should only be prescribed by physicians. Usage may cause serious complications,” he said.

The Ministry of Health considers anabolic steroids as a controlled drug that must be used in strictly controlled medical treatment. It can only be given to patients with specialist’s prescription. The prescription which is then held at the pharmacy to make sure it is not reused.

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