A 27-year-old man was arrested following the police's discovery of an illegal laboratory manufacturing steroids in Paarl, Western Cape. The discovery was made during a raid by the Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) working together with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) yesterday.

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Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the arrest is from a tip-off received in January 2023 regarding steroids that were couriered from Franschoek and distributed to local recipients. "The parcels were intercepted and sent to the laboratory for testing of which the report returned positive. Two suspects were identified, and further investigation was conducted," said Vukubi.

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Vukubi said after over a year, police finally positively identified the premises and discovered a full operation. "A search and seizure operation was authorised and conducted. During the search, pressing, sorting, and labelling machines, scales, and ovens were discovered. Moreover, powder and suspected Schedule 4 medicines were also found. The value of the steroids is yet to be determined," he said, adding that the suspect is expected to appear at the Paarl Magistrates Court soon and that more arrests are imminent.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, national police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk confirmed the arrest of several suspects linked to the sale of scheduled medicine, stimulants, and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were being sold to consumers online. "Investigations, which included a forensic analysis, revealed that one of the products sold online as a "fat burner" contained dimethylphenethylamine, an isomer of methamphetamine commonly known as crystal meth or Tik," she said.