On Wednesday 1 December 2021, SAIDS participated in Operation Dumbbell, headed by the Hawks (Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations), during which a raid on five facilities were executed. The raid included a residence in Cape Town, used for the illegal manufacturing and trafficking of anabolic steroids.
Items seized during the raid included various steroids, pill press machines, steroid manufacturing equipment, illicit drugs (12 000 Mandrax tablets), cash and ammunition. Suspects were arrested and will be arraigned in court on Friday 3rd December 2021.
Operation Dumbbell is a multi-agency collaboration and includes SA Police Services (SAPS) Forensics, SAPS Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, Crime Intelligence and SA Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA).