A former police officer is one of two men detectives say ran a sophisticated online drugstore selling banned and prescribed steroids, Xanax and estrogen inhibitors.
Unlike most illegal drug ventures, Alphabeast Anabolics and its brands ran for all to see on the clearnet and atop Google search results.
Its operators marketed it as a “super steroids supplier” in Australia, took payments in a range of popular cryptocurrencies and kept consumers happy with next-day deliveries, a rewards system and a periodic newsletter.
“We are 100 per cent legit and trustworthy,” they boasted on their website.
“We avoid seizures by using whatever means necessary in your location to ensure a safe delivery in the shortest amount of time possible.”
Users raved of “true professionals” in operation for at least five years.
“Best gear in Australia,” one post to consumer review site Trust Pilot says.
But police, tipped off via Crime Stoppers in early 2018 and watching dozens of packages distributed each week, MAST E 300mg moved in on Friday.
A 60-year-old man, who resigned from the police force more than a decade ago, was allegedly caught on Friday at a Bella Vista post box with vials of steroids set to be sent across the country.
A 28-year-old Indian national was arrested at a unit in North Rocks soon after.
A search of the unit and a Bella Vista home uncovered a pill press, gun, baton, labels and various steroids contained in 2500 vials, 100 canisters and 1000 tablets.
NSW Police Force’s cybercrime squad commander said investigators were “amazed” at the amount of prescribed restricted substances and prohibited drugs seized.
“These individuals had no qualifications, the drugs were being manufactured in what I would describe as entirely unsanitary environments,” Detective Superintendent Matt Craft told reports on Saturday.
He warned the site’s consumers that possessing the drugs sold by the online store was illegal and LGD4033 10 (Ligandrol) using them was a potential health risk.
The Alphabeast website, registered to an Icelandic domain, looked like many legal online stores and because so popular scam sites began mimicking it.
The store offered injectable steroids under two brand names Bulking Products – Thrive and Helix – for between $85 and $130.
It also expanded into a small range of prescription drugs, including Xanax, antidepressants, fat burners and erectile dysfunction medications.
Seller and purchaser interacted very little, Det Super Craft said.
“That is by design, that is a modern way of dealing drugs in 2019,” he said.
“But the cybercrime squad has a number of technical skills and we were able to quickly identify who was involved.”
Both of the arrested men face drug supply and identity information charges.
They were due to face Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
