Authorities in Irvine said they uncovered a large-scale operation that allegedly produced illegal steroids and distributed them locally and around the world.

Irvine police said 40 vials and 20,000 pills were found when local and federal authorities searched the home of Carlos Hernandez, 27, and his wife, Roxanne, 30.


Also seized were equipment and chemicals allegedly used to convert powdered steroids into liquid form and shipping material allegedly used to send the liquid across the U.S. and world, police said.

Three handguns, a shotgun, a rifle, several large-capacity magazines and more than $6,000 cash were also taken at the scene, police said.


The couple were arrested on suspicion of transporting or selling a controlled substance and other charges, including a weapons charge related to the large-capacity magazines.

The investigation began in a Bay Area mail screening facility when U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel found four pounds of powdered steroids in two packages allegedly addressed to the Hernandez home. The probe culminated Wednesday night when Irvine detectives and special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations searched the couple’s home.


jeremiah.dobruck2@latimes.com