"Steroids Ireland" Facebook Page Owner Convicted of Illegally Advertising and Selling Anabolic Steroids

Agris Bremsmits, the owner of the now-deactivated Facebook page “Steroids Ireland”, has been convicted of illegally advertising and selling anabolic steroids via the Internet. Bremsmits pleaded guilty to nine counts of unlawfully selling medicinal products that require a prescription in violation of the Irish Medicines Board Act in Dublin District Court on October 23, 2017.

Bremsmits was fortunate to avoid jail time. Dublin District Court Judge John Brennan showed leniency for the Latvian-born bodybuilder during sentencing. Instead of going to jail for up to 12-months, Bremsmit was only ordered to pay a fine of €5,000 along with court costs of €3,500.

Bremsmits admitted using social media to openly promote the sale of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) through a Facebook page called “Steroids Ireland”. While this type of blatant internet advertising would appear to be a red flag for law enforcement, it did not immediately lead to Bremsmits downfall as an internet steroid dealer.

It was a simple complaint from the mother of a teenage boy who had purchased steroids from Bremsmits through Facebook that paved the way for his arrest and conviction. The 18-year old steroid user in question was living at home. The mother became alarmed when she discovered used needles while cleaning his bedroom.

The mother filed a complaint with the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in 2015. As a result, HPRA initiated an undercover investigation into the owner of the “Steroids Ireland” Facebook page. 

Alan Smullen, an enforcement officer employed by HPRA, posed as a customer and ordered steroids through “Steroids Ireland”. After making contact with Bremsmits, Smullen was directed to send cash in mail as payment to a Dublin postal address. The mailing address turned out to be a Dublin gym where Bremsmits was employed as a personal trainer.

Ireland Customs officers also intercepted a parcel containing 190 vials of injectable steroids and 1,200 tablets of oral steroids. The parcel was addressed to a co-worker at the gym. Bremsmits apparently imported steroids using his work address so that his wife would not find out about his steroid-trafficking business.

His wife would find out soon enough. HPRA officers and An Garda Síochána officers executed a search warrant on his home. Police seized another 37 vials and 200 tablets along with substantial evidence linking Bremsmits to the operation of the “Steroids Ireland” Facebook page. The total value of all medicines including anabolic steroids such as testosterone and Dianabol, erectile dysfunction drugs such as Cialis and Viagra and other miscellaneous bodybuilding ancillary drugs was set at €11,000.

Source:

Tuite, T. (October 23, 2017). Gym instructor sold and advertised steroids through a Facebook page, court hears. Retrieved from independent.ie/irish-news/courts/gym-instructor-sold-and-advertised-steroids-through-a-facebook-page-court-hears-36253986.html