Six suspects, including three men and three women were arrested at various locations in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The arrests follow the South African Police Service (SAPS) uncovering a drug syndicate selling steroids, scheduled medicine, stimulants, and other performance enhancing drugs to consumers using the internet.
The sextet face multiple charges related to the contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act, and the Counterfeit Goods Act.
This is as police dismantled an online drug syndicate operating from East Lynne on Tuesday.
In the products sold online, the police found one containing an isomer of methamphetamine (crystal meth or Tik).
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said “They face multiple charges related to the contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act, and the Counterfeit Goods Act.”
Van Wyk said the suspects were reportedly operating an online website to trade and distribute counterfeit and illicit performance-enhancing drugs, scheduled medicines, steroids, and stimulants.
She added that the take-down operation took place after extensive investigations.
Van Wyk said investigations, including a forensic analysis, revealed that these products contain prohibited substances.
“One of the products sold online as a “fat burner” contains Dimethylphenethylamine, an isomer of methamphetamine,” she stated.
She said during the arrests, the teams seized a substantial quantity of counterfeit and illicit performance-enhancing drugs, steroids, scheduled medicine, and stimulants, as well as electronic devices.
POLICE UNCOVER A DRUG SYNDICATE SELLING STEROIDS, SCHEDULED MEDICINE AND STIMULANTS ONLINE, AND ARREST
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has uncovered a drug syndicate selling steroids, scheduled medicine, stimulants and other performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) online,… pic.twitter.com/GlbXyTyton
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 11, 2025
According to van Wyk, “The suspects are expected to appear before a magistrate’s court later this week as investigations continue.”
She said the take-down operation included the SAPS National Organised Crime Investigations Narcotics Unit, supported by the SAPS’ Transnational Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, Gauteng Provincial Narcotics Unit, Crime Intelligence, SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Also read: Police bust Pretoria online drug syndicate
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