Steroid ring smashed as Qld personal trainers, supplement store staff targeted

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By Jacqueline Maddock and Rachel Riga

Police have busted a steroid-trafficking network of personal trainers and health supplement store staff with alleged links to the Lone Wolf bikie gang.

Supplement stores, gyms and the homes of personal trainers were raided on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, uncovering 3,000 steroid capsules, more than 100 bottles of steroids and six grams of cocaine.

Franchised supplement stores were also raided in Mooloolaba, Kawana and Arana Hills.

Some of the drugs uncovered were believed to have been imported from China.

Operation Mike Crimson involved seven months of planning and targeted the criminal motorcycle gang Lone Wolf.

Detective Inspector Dave Cove said the street value of the drugs seized was in the millions, with human growth hormone fetching $500 a dose.

“The sort of money that can be made in this area is huge and that’s why the criminal motorcycle gangs have moved into it,” he said.

Four men were arrested on 41 charges and were released on bail.

Police will allege all four men are linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Taskforce Maxima Detective Inspector Brendan Smith said the risk to the health of the people taking the drugs cannot be understated.

“Don’t believe just because someone is a personal trainer in a gym that they’ve got some sort of mystic powers to dispense drugs to suddenly have the muscles of a caveman,” he said.