Wei Wang refused bail after steroids, tablets allegedly seized in $5m ‘Nexnos’ drug network raids

Police claim to have smashed an alleged drug distribution network, which is said to have promoted its products on bodybuilding forums before posting them to customers across the country.

Police claim to have seized more than $5m worth of steroids and tablets during raids targeting an alleged drug distribution network, which is said to have promoted its products on bodybuilding forums before posting them to customers across the country.

Canberra cops swooped on the alleged network known as Nexnos on Thursday, arresting its suspected kingpin during a series of raids that are also said to have resulted in the seizures of an extendable baton, $35,000 in cash and two BMWs believed to be proceeds of crime.

Wei Wang, a Chinese national alleged to be the group’s “controller”, is now behind bars, having been refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday.

He has pleaded not guilty to 54 charges, including 28 counts of supplying a declared substance without authorisation and 22 counts of supplying anabolic steroids.

The other charges are of attempting to supply anabolic steroids, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing proceeds of crime, and failing to comply with a magistrate’s order.

Detective Acting Inspector Emma Quade speaks to reporters about ACT Policing raids that resulted in the arrest of Wei Wang, inset. Pictures: Blake Foden, Julia Kanapathippillai

Detective Acting Inspector Emma Quade told reporters that ACT Policing had identified Nexnos while investigating an allegedly “affiliated” drug distribution syndicate called OzPharmLabs.

She said police had “dismantled” OzPharmLabs in December 2023, making several arrests, but the “extremely bold” Nexnos network had allegedly continued supplying substances.

Drugs allegedly found at an O’Connor home, in Canberra’s north, on Thursday. Picture: ACT Policing

That changed on Thursday, when she said more than 59,000 vials and 156,000 tablets of steroids and prescription drugs had been uncovered in raids across Canberra’s north.

The majority of the “stock” was found in a home in the affluent suburb of O’Connor, prosecutor Morgan Howe told the court on Friday while opposing Wang’s bail application.

Mr Howe said police investigating the alleged head of the OzPharmLabs syndicate had discovered that man had been communicating through the Threema encrypted messaging app with a user whose handle was d.w6699.

He alleged that person was Wang, and that the 33-year-old had made deals worth a total of $970,500 with the OzPharmLabs group during a three-month period in 2023.

A BMW suspected to have been purchased with the proceeds of crime. Picture: ACT Policing

While most of the Nexnos group’s drugs were allegedly located at the O’Connor home, Mr Howe told the court a man matching Wang’s description had been seen at the property.

He also claimed that when police raided Wang’s home in the suburb of Flynn on Thursday, the 33-year-old was found in possession of some substances and $35,000 in cash.

Mr Howe alleged Wang had “tried to shut down” two phones as officers entered the house, before refusing to help investigators unlock them in accordance with a magistrate’s order.

The prosecutor added that police had watched Wang and intercepted parcels the Chinese national had posted, allegedly finding “Nexnos products” inside when they were examined.

Cash allegedly found during Thursday’s raids. Picture: ACT Policing

The court heard some of Wang’s alleged offending had occurred while he was on bail, facing steroid importation charges that were ultimately withdrawn.

Because of this, he was legally required to demonstrate special or exceptional circumstances in order to have Friday’s bail application considered.

Defence lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith argued the prosecution case was exceptionally weak, identifying several charges that were described in “a block” with no individualised explanations.

He also submitted that while police seemed to claim his client was the “controller” of Nexnos, there was almost no “financial evidence” said to link Wang to the alleged syndicate.

Drugs allegedly found as part of the police search warrants. Picture: ACT Policing

Magistrate Alexandra Burt ultimately refused bail, saying she was not satisfied the case was sufficiently weak to establish special or exceptional circumstances.

She said she would have had concerns about Wang committing crimes if released in any event, noting he was accused of offending while previously on bail.

Wang was remanded in custody until the case returns to court in September.

He is so far the only person charged in the ACT over the alleged Nexnos network, but Detective Acting Inspector Quade said police hoped to make further arrests.

Several men remain before courts in the ACT, NSW and Victoria over their alleged involvements in the OzPharmLabs syndicate.