WASHINGTON - More than 120 people, including three from the Bay Area, were arrested in an 18-month international investigation of illicit steroid labs, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced today. The DEA said the wide-ranging probe dubbed Operation Raw Deal was assisted by foreign governments in nine countries including China and led to the seizure of 56 laboratories in the United States for manufacturing anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.
DEA spokesman Michael Sanders said 143 federal search warrants were issued during the probe, many of them since last Thursday.
The number of steroid doses seized in the raids amounted to 11.4 million.
Investigators seized more than 500 pounds of raw powder originating in China and used to manufacture steroids.
"China really stepped up to the plate to help us in this investigation," DEA spokesman Garrison Courtney said in Washington.
Two residents from San Jose and another from Burlingame who allegedly took part in the sale of human growth hormone from a South Bay fitness store were arrested.
According to the criminal complaint, agents allege that Brandon Tomlinson, 44, of Burlingame, an employee of Genentech, was supplying Lance Tomlinson, 38, of San Jose, with HGH. Lance Tomlinson has been identified as the owner of Max Muscle Store.
DEA agents in the San Jose office learned that HGH and steroids were allegedly being sold from the store, located in San Jose.
The criminal complaint details that during the course of the investigation agents received a bottle labeled Protropin, which was allegedly provided to a source by Lance Tomlinson. In July 2007, an undercover agent purchased approximately 20 bottles of HGH from Max Muscle Store. According to the criminal complaint, Jeffrey Coffron, 33, of San Jose, sold HGH to the undercover agent. Analysis received from the FDA Forensic Chemistry Center revealed that the bottle of "Protropin" seized in this investigation tested positive for a specific type of HGH that was only legally manufactured in the United States by Genentech.
On Sept. 20, Brandon Tomlinson, Lance Tomlinson and Jeffrey Coffron were arrested at their respective residences without incident. Additionally, agents seized 50 unmarked bottles of HGH, 13 vials of steroids, approximately 44 grams of crystal methamphetamine, several types of unlabeled pills, cash and a small indoor marijuana garden containing approximately 15 marijuana plants from the residence of Lance Tomlinson and Jeffrey Coffron.
News conferences by law enforcement officials were planned for San Diego, New York City, Houston, Kansas City and Providence, R.I., said Sanders.
In addition to China's cooperation, other countries participating in the investigation were Mexico, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Thailand.
The seizure of steroid labs follows scandals in the sports world over steroid abuse.
Giants' slugger and home run king Barry Bonds' career has been tainted by allegations of steroid abuse.
Pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and young son and hanged himself. At the time of his death, Benoit had more than 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system. Ten performers suspended by World Wrestling Entertainment were punished for ordering drugs, mostly human growth hormones, that violate the company's drug policy.
Also participating in Operation Raw Deal were the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the National Drug Intelligence Center.
In Denmark, police raided 26 locations across the country. Germany's Federal Criminal office said its agents closed down five illicit labs and confiscated tens of thousands of illicit tablets and capsules as part of searches carried out in five of the nation's 16 states.
Joergen Isalin of the Denmark National Police investigative center, said police were able to see the China link in the investigation through money transfers between a buyer and a Chinese seller.
