$5 million reward offered for arrest of accused steroid traffickers

BOSTON — A Slovenian drug family is on the run from federal authorities and now a $5 million reward is being offered for each of their captures.

Authorities say the investigation started more than 10 years ago before the Dark Web and still, this family had more than 200 sites advertising and selling illegal steroids.

"What we quickly found out when we took on the case was that literally millions of dosages of anabolic steroids were being shipped into the United States, including Massachusetts," said Andrew Lelling, U.S. Attorney for Mass.

After a yearslong investigation and undercover operations, DEA agents have a case against Mihael Karner, his wife Alenka, and his brother Matevz.

The Karners allegedly used a series of manufacturers, wholesalers, and re-packagers/shippers based in multiple foreign countries to control the manufacture and distribution of the steroids.

"What we realized was that he was probably one of the largest steroid traffickers in the world and was making tens of millions of dollars from this trade," said Lelling.

Lelling says the Karner organization controls more than 200 websites that advertise and sell the illegal steroids and their clientele ran the gamut.

"We had local housewives. We had local amateur athletes. A competitive Judo practitioner who had been injured and wanted to heal faster. Weightlifters, athletes, people who were recreational tennis players, old, young. You hit a whole cross-section of the community," he said.

Lelling says these fugitives were caught but evaded European law enforcement officials and are believed to be in Slovenia.

"People need to, one, be careful what they're buying online. Two, be careful what your kids are buying on the internet. So we shut this guy down, right now he's a fugitive but we don't think he's active. But there's ten people to replace him," said Lelling.

The Karners allegedly hid all the cash they have earned using corporate shell accounts and payment methods, including Western Union/MoneyGram.

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