 Minister for Justice and Customs. Senator Amanda Vanstone with some seized performance enhancing drugs |
Rise in seizures of performance enhancing drugs ... The Australian Customs Service again made a record number of seizures of "performance enhancing drugs" (PEDs) during 1999-2000, but the trend of the number of seizures approximately doubling each year has not continued. Customs made 1125 PED seizures in 1999-2000, an increase of some 16 per cent over the 968 seizures made during 1998-1999. Customs seizures of illegal PEDs during 1999-2000 consisted of:
In commenting on these results, the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, said anabolic and androgenic steroids, although restricted imports in Australia, were available "over-the-counter" in some countries. It is widely accepted that the Internet offers greater access to international markets and suppliers (legal or otherwise). However products such as DHEA and steroids that are offered as "legal" on Internet sites based overseas (particularly the USA which was the source for 83 per cent of 1999-2000 seizures) may not necessarily be legally imported into Australia. The majority of Customs PED detections are from parcels and other articles in the international postal system. Eighty-six per cent (86 per cent) of PED seizures in 1999-2000 were from international postal articles (89 per cent in 1998-1999). Customs employs a wide range of state-of-the-art technology, including backscatter x-ray machines, to detect prohibited imports including PEDs. Technology such as x-ray and ionscan machines are deployed at air and sea ports and international mail centres. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has responsibility for determining which PEDs are restricted imports and for permit arrangements. Customs works closely with the TGA and the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) to ensure that wherever possible, substances that are banned in sport are also prohibited imports. Customs "supply reduction" measures also form an integral part of the Government's anti-doping strategy, Tough on Drugs in Sport. Customs is providing ASDA and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) with information on the detection of illegal imports of PEDs. In May 2000, a criminal sanction regime was introduced for illegal importations of more than a critical quantity of PEDs. The maximum criminal penalty is $100,000 and/or five years imprisonment. However, under this penalty regime, Customs may prosecute any illegal import of PEDs civilly - the maximum civil penalty being $100,000. Senator Vanstone said that in 1999-2000 Customs had completed 17 prosecutions with results ranging from a guilty plea with no conviction recorded to a fine of $7500. Diversion from legitimate supplies and theft are primary sources of illicit PEDs in Australia. Domestic diversion and theft are the responsibility of State and Territory police, health and/or agricultural agencies. Web pages: Tough On Drugs in Sport: www.isr.gov.au/sport/tough_on_drugs_in_sport Therapeutic Goods Administration: www.health.gov.au/tga Australian Sports Drug Agency: www.asda.org.au |
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VOLUME 3 • No 2 • NOVEMBER 2000 |
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Published by Corporate Communication Australian Customs Service |
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