CBB loves Japan
17-06-2008, 03:58 PM
June 17, 2008
Dianne Wood
RECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
A man charged after a massive seizure of steroids in Waterloo Region was refused bail yesterday.
In ordering Fernando Reis held in custody, Justice of the Peace Andrew Marquette said the trafficking of steroids is a public safety issue.
"There are problems with steroids in society,'' he said. "Young people have a tendency to try steroids to enhance their looks.'' This is a problem because of the lack of quality control over the drugs Reis allegedly had with him and because of the potential abuse of the drug, Marquette said.
Reis, 46, faces 35 charges, including possessing steroids for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking steroids. Waterloo Regional Police and the RCMP arrested him in April after raiding a Kitchener home, where they seized a huge quantity of steroids packaged in cardboard boxes.
Police also found drugs at a U-Haul storage unit on Fairway Road and at 707 Black Cherry St. in Waterloo. Steroids speed muscle growth and are linked to performance enhancement in bodybuilding and other sports.
Along with the steroids, police seized counterfeit Viagra and other drugs used for erectile dysfunction. Reis is also charged with possessing ephedrine for the purpose of trafficking. It's a chemical derivative of the herb ephedra, often used by bodybuilders to lose weight and increase energy.
Reis was more recently charged with four counts of importing steroids and possessing the proceeds of crime.
In arguing Reis should be released on bail, lawyer Devin Bains said his client isn't charged with trafficking heroin or cocaine.
"Even though these things are bad, they sit on the lower range of things when it comes to trafficking,'' he said. "Nobody is suggesting people walking around with muscles or erections are dangerous . . . .''
But the justice of the peace noted that when the RCMP got a warrant to search the storage unit, they allegedly found Reis and two other men who seemed to be there "to clean out the unit.'' Marquette also noted Reis was convicted in 1997 of 31 counts of trafficking, "similar to what we're dealing with right now.''
He was concerned Reis has said he wants to go to the Bahamas and continue his "hobby'' of selling steroids and other products as a business there. Federal prosecutor Catrina Braid argued Reis is a flight risk.
Yesterday, Reis defended the substances he sold in 1997, painting himself as a man before his time who was really acting for the public good.
He was charged under the Food and Drug Act after being accused of manufacturing illegal drug products and distributing them through a mail-order business. He got an 18-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to more than 30 counts of violating the Food and Drug Act.
Among other things, Reis sold diet aids, cancer remedies, a cure for hypothermia, cures for impotency, anti-aging products and vitamins.
"The products I was wrongfully convicted of have now been legitimized,'' he claimed. "I spent 21 months in jail for selling things that are now legal that the public is benefitting from.''
He cited glutamine and creatine as two examples of the "food supplements'' he sold.
"You felt you were doing something to help the community,'' Braid suggested. "So you're a pioneer in the health field?''
"I may have been,'' Reis said.
He will next appear in court on June 30.
Dianne Wood
RECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
A man charged after a massive seizure of steroids in Waterloo Region was refused bail yesterday.
In ordering Fernando Reis held in custody, Justice of the Peace Andrew Marquette said the trafficking of steroids is a public safety issue.
"There are problems with steroids in society,'' he said. "Young people have a tendency to try steroids to enhance their looks.'' This is a problem because of the lack of quality control over the drugs Reis allegedly had with him and because of the potential abuse of the drug, Marquette said.
Reis, 46, faces 35 charges, including possessing steroids for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking steroids. Waterloo Regional Police and the RCMP arrested him in April after raiding a Kitchener home, where they seized a huge quantity of steroids packaged in cardboard boxes.
Police also found drugs at a U-Haul storage unit on Fairway Road and at 707 Black Cherry St. in Waterloo. Steroids speed muscle growth and are linked to performance enhancement in bodybuilding and other sports.
Along with the steroids, police seized counterfeit Viagra and other drugs used for erectile dysfunction. Reis is also charged with possessing ephedrine for the purpose of trafficking. It's a chemical derivative of the herb ephedra, often used by bodybuilders to lose weight and increase energy.
Reis was more recently charged with four counts of importing steroids and possessing the proceeds of crime.
In arguing Reis should be released on bail, lawyer Devin Bains said his client isn't charged with trafficking heroin or cocaine.
"Even though these things are bad, they sit on the lower range of things when it comes to trafficking,'' he said. "Nobody is suggesting people walking around with muscles or erections are dangerous . . . .''
But the justice of the peace noted that when the RCMP got a warrant to search the storage unit, they allegedly found Reis and two other men who seemed to be there "to clean out the unit.'' Marquette also noted Reis was convicted in 1997 of 31 counts of trafficking, "similar to what we're dealing with right now.''
He was concerned Reis has said he wants to go to the Bahamas and continue his "hobby'' of selling steroids and other products as a business there. Federal prosecutor Catrina Braid argued Reis is a flight risk.
Yesterday, Reis defended the substances he sold in 1997, painting himself as a man before his time who was really acting for the public good.
He was charged under the Food and Drug Act after being accused of manufacturing illegal drug products and distributing them through a mail-order business. He got an 18-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to more than 30 counts of violating the Food and Drug Act.
Among other things, Reis sold diet aids, cancer remedies, a cure for hypothermia, cures for impotency, anti-aging products and vitamins.
"The products I was wrongfully convicted of have now been legitimized,'' he claimed. "I spent 21 months in jail for selling things that are now legal that the public is benefitting from.''
He cited glutamine and creatine as two examples of the "food supplements'' he sold.
"You felt you were doing something to help the community,'' Braid suggested. "So you're a pioneer in the health field?''
"I may have been,'' Reis said.
He will next appear in court on June 30.