Arrests made in record-setting illegal steroids bust

Investigators have released more information about a record-setting steroids bust in Alberta.

According to ALERT, an investigation that started in May 2014 wrapped up on Sept. 25 when five search warrants were executed in Edmonton.Three homes and two storage lockers were searched.

Officers arrested four individuals, including Kirk Goodkey, the man they allege was manufacturing the illegal steroids and distributing them as far away as St. John’s, Nfld.

Goodkey and the others are each facing charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime.

"These individuals are allegedly responsible for the large illegal underground steroid distribution network that spans across Canada," said Insp. Darcy Strang from ALERT. "And these investigators have literally cut the head off the snake."

A fully operational steroid manufacturing laboratory was found inside one northeast Edmonton home, located just metres away from an elementary school.

Inside one of the storage lockers, investigators found nearly 100 barrels of unknown chemical substances. Four vehicles and $88,000 in cash were also seized.

Officers arrested four individuals, including Kirk Goodkey, the man who was allegedly manufacturing the illegal steroids and distributing them as far away as St. John’s, Nfld.

Goodkey and the others are each facing charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime.

In total, ALERT seized:

• 365,268 tablets
• 10,583 vials
• 124 kilograms of raw steroid powders
• 1,250 kilograms of various raw powders
• 30 litres of liquid drug precursors

The total estimated street value of the drugs is $9.3 million. The illegal steroids seizure is the largest of its kind by a Canadian police agency.

Previously, the largest steroids seizure in Canada was in December 2008 when Quebec police seized more than 400,000 tablets from a home just north of Montreal.

In Alberta, Edmonton police busted a $600,000 lab in Fort Saskatchewan in July 2014.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government. Nearly 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work on the team.