Prominent Melbourne sports medicine clinic raided in steroid trafficking probe
An anti-ageing clinic in Melbourne’s northwest has been raided, its owner arrested and luxury cars worth millions of dollars seized as part of a major steroid trafficking investigation.
Police & Courts
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A prominent anti-ageing clinic has been raided and luxury cars worth many millions seized as part of a major steroid trafficking investigation.
The Melbourne Sports Medicine and Anti-Aging Science clinic at Moonee Ponds was searched on Thursday and drugs allegedly seized.
Millions of dollars worth of vehicles were later impounded at a Somerton factory and police will allege some were the proceeds of crime.
Also discovered at Somerton was $950,000 cash and a gold Louis Vuitton table and chair setting with an estimated value of $250,000.
Investigators trawled through the Mount Alexander Rd MSMAAS clinic for hours, before seizing steroids, growth hormones and peptides.
Detective Senior Sergeant Raj Tillekeratne said there were prescription drugs and drugs of dependence, most of them associated with anti-ageing and bodybuilding.
“The business model that we believe these organised crime figures have used is that they’re selling prescription medication without having the proper licenses in order to gain wealth,” Sergeant Tillekeratne added.
A 54-year-old man, Robin James Taylor, was arrested as police made their move after a five-month investigation.
Company records show the clinic is owned by Taylor, who was a former practice manager at the Dr Ageless clinic of biochemist Shane Charter and a friend of sports scientist and Essendon supplements scandal figure Stephen Dank.
MSMAAS boasts of having doctors, medical staff and pathology services available for clients.
“Our mission is to empower individuals to achieve their optimal health and fitness through innovative sports medicine and anti-ageing science. We are dedicated to providing evidence-based care and personalised strategies that support our clients’ unique goals and lifestyles,” the clinic’s website says.
Sen-Sgt Tillekeratne said there were up to 50 high-end, high-performance and luxury vehicles at the Somerton factory, which was surrounded by an electric fence.
One of the cars, a VK SS Holden Brock special, has a potential value of $800,000.
“(There were) Lamborghinis, Porsches, AMGs and Bentleys. I’ve been told some of these cars are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and we are alleging these are proceeds of crime,” he said.
A house at Yarrambat was also searched by investigators.
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