On January 29, 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.
By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – An Indo-Canadian is among four people facing steroid smuggling charges.
On January 29, 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.
“These charges are a direct result of an intense investigation that spanned over two years and included valuable assistance by the Oak Bay Police. The CBSA is committed to preventing inadmissible persons and goods from entering Canada and remains diligent in protecting Canada’s residents.”
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.
Quick Facts
• CBSA officer in the Pacific Region made 658 seizures of steroids between January 2014 and January 2015. Of those, 192 seizures totalled 88,625.32 grams and 466 seizures totalled 73,800 doses.
