Two people linked to the Paarl steroid lab appeared briefly in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and were released on R500 bail each, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to SmileFM, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority discovered the clandestine laboratory on 12 February 2025 after parcels intercepted in 2023 tested positive for anabolic substances.
Investigators found pressing, sorting and labelling machines, scales and ovens, along with powder and suspected Schedule 4 medicines.
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Warrant officer Zinzi Hani, speaking for the Hawks, said the two new suspects, identified as Clementhea Barbara Stoffels (40) and Cheslin Cornelius (39) have been added to the original case and will join their co-accused in the Paarl Regional Court.
‘The team finally identified the premises and found them fully operational,’ she said.
Community leaders and health experts warn that illicit production risks serious public harm, including contamination and unregulated dosing.
Anabolic steroid use remains a documented concern in parts of South Africa, particularly among young athletes and gym-goers, as authorities continue to dismantle illegal manufacturing operations such as the Paarl steroid lab uncovered by the Hawks.
A 2022 PMC South African study found that about 24% of high-school rugby players reported using anabolic steroids.
The demand that fuels illicit supply chains. Health experts have repeatedly warned that unregulated steroids pose serious risks, including organ damage and long-term hormonal effects, especially when produced outside licensed facilities.
Law enforcement agencies say clandestine labs, while not widespread, surface regularly through targeted investigations linked to organised distribution networks.
The matter was remanded to 5 March 2026 to allow the accused time to consult attorneys and for further case preparation.
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Two Cape Town men to appear in court for allegedly dealing steroids
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