Portuguese PJ police have arrested four men in the Lisbon metropolitan area as part of an operation dubbed “Harry Potter”, targeting the illegal trafficking and use of banned substances and methods in sport.
According to the PJ, the suspects were caught in the act and are strongly suspected of crimes including trafficking of prohibited substances and methods (doping), possession of a prohibited weapon, and money laundering.
Investigators say the group was involved in the purchase, sale and administration of anabolic steroids, mainly to bodybuilding and fitness athletes, some of whom have won medals in national and international competitions. The illegal activity was allegedly carried out through a physiotherapy clinic, a solarium, a gym, and other establishments managed or frequented by the suspects.
During the operation, police carried out eight search warrants, both residential and non-residential, seizing more than 100 ampoules containing banned substances, a firearm, cash, and a range of physical and digital evidence considered crucial to the investigation.
The four suspects, one of them a foreign national, were brought before a judge for a first judicial hearing. They were ordered not to contact each other or anyone linked to bodybuilding and fitness sports and were released under Portugal’s Termo de Identidade e Residência, under which they must report to authorities whenever necessary.
The investigation is being handled by the Lisbon Public Prosecutor’s Office (DIAP).
Portugal’s police are well known for giving their operations quirky names, many of which can be hard for the public to decipher. In this case, however, the title “Harry Potter” may be a nod to the franchise’s famous Felix Felicis potion – a magical drink that brings its user extraordinary luck and guarantee success for a limited time. A fitting reference, perhaps, to the alleged effects promised by the illegal substances sold by the suspects.
