The Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States has announced the culmination of their Operation Raw Deal action in which 124 people were arrested, 56 underground labs sealed and more than 11 million steroid dosage units, including 242 kilograms of raw steroid powder from China, were seized.

According to Steve Robertson, a special agent for the DEA, they have identified at least 30 companies involving in providing raw materials for anabolic steroid and human growth hormone. Robertson says that they have passed the list of these suppliers to China's Public Security Bureau. He says DEA has been working with China's law enforcement department for up to one year and they won't yet disclose the names of these 30 Chinese suppliers until China detains or raises lawsuits against them.

Operation Raw Deal is a two-year action jointly launched by DEA, Office of Criminal Investigation of the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and the United States Postal Service. It targets the global underground trade of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and insulin growth factor.

Anabolic steroids, also known as male sex hormones, can increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the build-up of cellular tissue and muscles. Because of this, it has been used by bodybuilders and athletes to build muscle and improve performance. However, the substances are found to have a lot of side effects when used over a long period.

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