Spanish police have arrested seven individuals for trafficking anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in the Marina Baja region of Alicante as part of the ongoing Operation Lisboa investigation. The Guardia Civil confiscated over 4,000 dosage units of steroids and HGH from a business in Benidorm, a gym in Altea and a supplement store in Alfaz del Pi. The Spanish beach resort area is popular among European tourists from the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Norway and France (“Desmantelan dos puntos ilegales de venta de anabolizantes en Benidorm y Altea,” February 21).


The confiscated performance enhancing drugs have been identified as including Norma Nandrolone Decanoate, Ansomone HGH, and various oral anabolic steroids from Thailand.

Spain’s Cuerpo Nacional de PolicĂ*a (National Police Corps) and Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) have been vigilant in their pursuit of anabolic steroid distribution cases since the issue of doping and steroids in Spain has taken the national spotlight as a result of the Operacion Puerta investigation into professional cyclists and other athletes. The steroid crackdown has spawned three major investigations targeting the distribution of anabolic steroids in recent years including Operation Mazas, Operation Bodegon and Operation Gamma II. These steroid investigations have resulted in the several arrests and steroid busts.