Steroids stashed in book
Vera Devai
30mar05
AUSTRALIAN Customs officers found more than an interesting read when they intercepted a copy of the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code sent from overseas.
The book, mailed from London to Sydney, contained 12 vials of performance-enhancing anabolic steroids.
Australian Customs Services spokesman Simon Latimer said yesterday the paperback had four sections cut out from the pages in which the vials were hidden.
Customs officers detected the illegal substance on February 23 and got a warrant to search a Sydney house.
Four more vials of anabolic steroids were found at the house during the March 11 raid, they said. A second package was intercepted on its way to the address and 18 more vials found.
Mr Latimer said a Sydney man would be charged with two counts of importing prohibited imports and one of possessing a prohibited import.
He was yet to be summonsed to court.
Each count has a maximum penalty of $110,000.
"There are some quite ingenious methods of concealment attempted by people," Mr Latimer said.
"I can't comment specifically how frequently it happens inside a book, but it's been done before.
"It just struck us somewhat ironic that it was done inside The Da Vinci Code."
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has been on the New York Times bestseller list since its release in April 2003.
It tells a tale of a conspiracy theory that a secret sect had left a code in several artworks that hold the truth about Jesus Christ.
Mr Latimer said all international mail coming into the country was assessed for potential risk and then investigated further if found to be suspicious.
He would not comment on why this particular parcel came to the attention of the authorities because he did not want to alert copycats.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the case served as a warning.
"This bust sends a strong reminder that Customs screens 100 per cent of all international mail arriving in Australia," he said.
