ILLICIT steroids are flooding into Australia, with record high seizures of the drugs last year. New data also confirms Victoria as the main entry point for the biggest cocaine shipments into the country.
The Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data report, out today, reveals a 74 per cent increase in steroid seizures nationally last year.
Customs and police detected 2695 illegal shipments of performance-enhancing drugs, 2264 of which were steroids.
Most were sent to Australia from the US or Thailand, commonly smuggled by air travellers or through the post.
The commission noted a spike in the muscle-building, fat-burning steroid clenbuterol, with 191 detections last year, up from 56 in 2009.
Australian water polo star James Stanton, 27, was banned after testing positive to that drug last year.
The Herald Sun yesterday revealed that former Tigers ruckman Justin Charles blew the whistle on anabolic steroid use in the AFL as far back as 1997.
Steroids can be imported only with a permit from federal regulators.
The commission also raised concerns about the rising number of toxic suburban drug labs.
There were 694 clandestine drug labs uncovered around the country last year, 113 of which were in Victoria.
Two-thirds of cocaine seized in Australia was intercepted in Victoria, where it sells for $300 a gram.
More than 70 per cent of cocaine came through the post, although major seizures by weight were on the docks in Melbourne and Sydney. There were 7.8 tonnes of drugs seized nationwide and in 85,000 arrests.
Victoria the nation's hub for the biggest cocaine shipments | Herald Sun
The Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data report, out today, reveals a 74 per cent increase in steroid seizures nationally last year.
Customs and police detected 2695 illegal shipments of performance-enhancing drugs, 2264 of which were steroids.
Most were sent to Australia from the US or Thailand, commonly smuggled by air travellers or through the post.
The commission noted a spike in the muscle-building, fat-burning steroid clenbuterol, with 191 detections last year, up from 56 in 2009.
Australian water polo star James Stanton, 27, was banned after testing positive to that drug last year.
The Herald Sun yesterday revealed that former Tigers ruckman Justin Charles blew the whistle on anabolic steroid use in the AFL as far back as 1997.
Steroids can be imported only with a permit from federal regulators.
The commission also raised concerns about the rising number of toxic suburban drug labs.
There were 694 clandestine drug labs uncovered around the country last year, 113 of which were in Victoria.
Two-thirds of cocaine seized in Australia was intercepted in Victoria, where it sells for $300 a gram.
More than 70 per cent of cocaine came through the post, although major seizures by weight were on the docks in Melbourne and Sydney. There were 7.8 tonnes of drugs seized nationwide and in 85,000 arrests.
Victoria the nation's hub for the biggest cocaine shipments | Herald Sun
