Prosecutions and Seizures

Atlantic Region

CBSA joint investigation leads to guilty plea in anabolic steroid case

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, February 9, 2009 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that Kevin Tanner from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, was sentenced today in a Lunenburg provincial court after pleading guilty to possessing, smuggling, trafficking and producing illegal anabolic steroids. The charges were the result of a joint investigation last year between the CBSA and the Bridgewater Police Service, which led to a seizure of more than $400,000 worth of steroids and to the first shut down of a steroid manufacturing lab in Canada.

Mr. Tanner has been sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for two charges under the Customs Act, three charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, one charge under the Food and Drugs Act and two charges under the Criminal Code for money laundering and proceeds offenses. He also received a concurrent sentence of two months for possession of child pornography.

Last year, CBSA officers intercepted and seized several packages through the mail system that were found to contain the raw hormone used to make steroids. The raw product was being shipped from China under various names, and then it was further processed to make anabolic steroids, both in liquid and pill form. Additional drugs were also manufactured to counteract the side effects of anabolic steroid consumption. The drugs were being sold across Canada and the United States on the Internet and on message boards.

The CBSA administers over 90 acts and regulations and international agreements, many on behalf of other federal departments and agencies. The Agency is responsible for ensuring the security and prosperity of Canada by managing the free flow of legitimate trade and travel across the border.

The CBSA remains committed to keeping illegal drugs out of Canada's communities.

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For media information:

Communications (Atlantic Region)
Canada Border Services Agency
902-426-2271

Deputy Chief John Collyer
Bridgewater Police Service
902-543-2464
Cell: 902-521-4872

Illegal substances that were being sold on the Internet and on message boards

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Illegal anabolic steroid lab

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