CBSA dismantles Greater Toronto Area steroid smuggling operation

December 12, 2016               Mississauga, Ontario              Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today the arrest of two individuals in relation to an anabolic steroid smuggling and distribution ring. Emilio Sinapi of Woodbridge and Eric Singh of Mississauga have been charged with numerous counts of smuggling and possession, purchase, selling, exchange, acquiring or disposing of unlawfully imported goods under the Customs Act; importation, production, possession for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and conspiracy to smuggle anabolic steroids without authorization contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.

On December 1, 2016, officers from the CBSA Criminal Investigations Section in the Greater Toronto Area Region executed search warrants and arrested Sinapi and Singh, as a result of an ongoing investigation. This investigation started in February 2016, after steroids were intercepted and seized at the CBSA Vancouver International Mail Processing Centre.  Further investigation revealed links to prior steroid seizures from both the Vancouver and Montreal International Mail Processing Centres.

An estimated 36,500 tablets, over 11 kilograms of raw powder, 15,000 millilitres of liquid containing suspected steroids and other controlled substances, a commercial pill-press, and $12,000 (undisclosed cash) were seized during the investigation,. Both of the accused appeared at the Brampton Provincial Court on December 2, 2016 and have been released on bail.  

Quote

 “The CBSA conducts investigations of border-related criminal non-compliance and prosecutes offenders to the full extent of the law; our investigative efforts are focused on activities and offences posing the highest risk to Canadians. I applaud the great work of our Criminal Investigators for these arrests and the dismantling of two drug labs in the GTA, keeping our communities safe and secure.”

-       Goran Vragovic, CBSA Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region

Quick Facts

• CBSA Criminal Investigators support Agency public safety and economic security objectives by investigating and initiating prosecution for criminal offences against Canada's border legislation.
• Anabolic steroids are listed under Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.

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Contacts

CBSA Media Relations

Greater Toronto Area

905-803-2800

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