A 33-year-old Chinese national has been charged with drug trafficking offences following the discovery of more than $5 million worth of prescription drugs and steroid tablets during a police search of houses across three north Canberra suburbs on Thursday. 

On Thursday police and officers from Australian Border Force searched houses in Flynn, O’Connor and Whitlam.

At the O’Connor residence police found more than 59,000 vials and 156,000 tablets of steroids and prescription drugs with an estimated value of at least $5 million. An extendable baton, cash and other items that supported the distribution of the drugs were also seized.

At the Flynn home, two BMW vehicles were seized – suspected to have been purchased with the proceeds of crime.

The Chinese national was arrested at the Flynn home and charged with 23 counts of supplying an anabolic steroid, 27 counts of supplying a declared substance, one count of attempting to supply anabolic steroids, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing the proceeds of crime, and failing to comply with a 3LA order.

In December police from the ACT, NSW and Victoria disrupted Australia’s largest illegal steroid and controlled drug distribution network. This group was working out of the ACT and Victoria.

Police say they subsequently identified a second criminal group operating in the ACT and will allege this group was promoting their illegal business through bodybuilding discussion forums and using encrypted messaging apps to facilitate the sales.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and further arrests may be made.