Police raid Bangkok steroid lab, seize 1.3 million tablets

Police and officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thailand have raided two adjoining condominium units in Bangkok's Pattanakarn area and seized a large quantity of illicit anabolic steroids in tablet, powder and liquid forms.

The owner of the two condominium units, identified only as Anuwat, was arrested. Police said Anuwat had been arrested about three years ago for the same offence.

Police said the two units had been turned into a laboratory where various forms of anabolic steroids were produced and packaged for distribution to fitness clubs in Thailand and overseas, using raw materials and ingredients smuggled across the border from a neighbouring country.

Pol Col Weerapong Klaithong, superintendent of the Consumer Protection Command, said the suspect had developed his own formula for the steroid products.

The illegal drugs were mostly sold online to selected customers in fitness circles and exported to customers abroad.

About 1.3 million tablets, already packaged but without labels, were found in the condominium, along with more tablets awaiting packaging. Police also found numerous plastic bottles containing liquid anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. In medicine, they are prescribed by doctors to treat conditions such as male hypogonadism, delayed puberty and muscle-wasting diseases.

However, they are often misused to increase muscle mass and enhance athletic performance.