HARRISBURG – Attorney General narcotics agents on Tuesday arrested 10 suspects for their alleged involvement in the use, distribution and manufacture of steroids in the Dauphin, Cumberland, Lehigh and Northampton County areas.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that the investigation, known as “Operation Roid Runner,” began in the fall of 2007 and revealed that, since 2004, the defendants were allegedly responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania.

“Like any illegal drug, steroids come with negative and dangerous physical effects,” Corbett said. “We need to do everything we can to make sure that the public, especially young men, are aware of the dangers of using steroids, and we need to take those who distribute this poison off our streets.”

Evidence and testimony about the alleged criminal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges filed.

According to the grand jury, the defendants were dealing steroids in both pill and liquid form. In addition, a total of approximately $170,000 was sent overseas through wire transfers between January of 2004 and January of 2009. The investigation revealed that the senders used fictitious names and structured the wire payments, keeping the amounts wired below $1,000, to avoid detection from law enforcement.

Corbett said that because the steroid orders sometimes cost up to $9,000.

Corbett added that during this investigation, agents seized a total of more than 700 bottles of steroids, 1,337 pills containing steroids, nine pounds of bulk steroids, $28,000 and four other firearms.

Corbett noted that the investigation is ongoing.