Over 230 arrested in Europe-wide anti-doping operation

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - Europe’s police agency Europol has seized 3.8 million illicit doping substances and counterfeit medicines and arrested 234 people in a continentwide anti-doping operation.

Thirty-three countries, INTERPOL, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) joined forces in the Europol-coordinated operation Viribus for a massive crackdown on the trafficking of doping materials and counterfeit medicine, Europol said in a statement on Monday.

"Shutting down underground labs was one of the main objectives of the operation: nine were detected and closed in European countries and almost 24 tons of raw steroid powder were seized," it said.

During the operation, 17 organized groups were dismantled; nine underground labs were disrupted; 839 judicial cases were opened; almost 1,000 individuals reported for the production, commerce or use of doping substances.