VANCOUVER: The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Criminal Investigations Section laid charges against Gautam Mohan Srivastava, of Saanich, B.C. and three other B.C. men in relation to an anabolic steroid smuggling and distribution ring.
These are the latest charges in a two year investigation that spanned across the nation from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Victoria, British Columbia.
Srivastava has been charged with seven counts including: smuggling and possession of unlawfully imported goods under the Customs Act; importation, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking (two counts), and production under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
William Joel Baturin, of Sechelt B.C., Simon James Baturin of Vancouver B.C., and Hubert Moses Sims of Burnaby, B.C. have been charged with four counts including: possession of unlawfully imported goods under the Customs Act; and trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and production under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) continues to be vigilant in our enforcement efforts at the border,” said Yvette-Monique Gray, Director Enforcement and Intelligence Division.
The investigation named Project Juice started in 2012 after steroids were intercepted in multiple postal seizures at the CBSA Vancouver and Greater Toronto International Mail centres, and at the Vancouver International Air Cargo Centre.
Early in the investigation, in 2012, Greg Austin Doucette of Halifax, Nova Scotia was charged with offences under Customs Act and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. In 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba resident Jason Mark Eggleston pled guilty to one count of smuggling pursuant to the Customs Act.
Over 5,600 vials, 150,000 tablets, approximately 2.7 litres of prepared steroids, over 50 kilograms of pure raw powders and $21,000 cash were seized during the investigation in British Columbia.
