Australian Police Commander Arthur Katsogiannis wanted steroid dealers to rot in prison but that was before his son was charged with steroid importation and supply.
Daniel Katsogiannis, the Owner and Operator of Flex Nutrition Depot in the Sydney suburb of Beverly Hills, was arrested last month in connection with a drug trafficking and importation investigation involving illegal performance- and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs).
Katsogiannis is best known as the 31-year old son of the award-winning NSW Police Commander Arthur Katsogiannis. Katsogiannis was arrested 4 days after his father retired from the Australian Police force.
NSW Police Commander Arthur Katsogiannis was a giant in Australian law enforcement who advocated draconian penalties for steroid dealers. He was dissatisfied with the 12-month good behavior bonds that steroid dealers typically received in New South Wales.
Police Commander Arthur Katsogiannis probably didn’t expect his son to become a steroid dealer.
Commander Katsogiannis wanted NSW to adopt policies similar to the steroid possession and supply laws in the State of Victoria. For example, steroid dealers faced the same punishment as heroin and cocaine dealers in Victoria. This included sentences of up to 15 years in prison.
”In a materialistic society that we live in now – the body-conscious – a lot of these individuals want to look good, want to be strong,” Katsogiannis said in 2011. ”And … because they are not restricted substances the penalties aren’t the same and they are lighter penalties. Some of them will only be a 12-months [good behaviour] bond.
”[Victoria’s] is a good legislative framework and certainly sends out a stronger deterrent to those who use or distribute steroids.”
Daniel Katsogiannis almost followed in his father’s footsteps. He spent one month in law enforcement in August 2013 before he quit according to his LinkedIn profile.
Daniel became increasingly involved in the bodybuilding subculture and opened a sports nutrition store called “Flex Nutrition Depot” in 2015.
By May 2017, Daniel was using and selling PIEDs. He was arrested and charged with 9 counts of drug possession, one count of drug supply and one count of drug importation. All charges were dismissed due to mental health reasons related to his diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder.
In 2018, the Australian Border Force (ABF) launched an investigation into the importation of illegal bodybuilding drug by Daniel Katsogiannis.
ABF officiers intercepted six packages containing banned drugs between June 2018 and November 2018. The drugs included human growth hormone, phenibut, dimethylamylamine (DMAA), yohimbine and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
ABF also execute search warrants on his Wattle Grove in August 2018 and December 2018. They seized a large quantity of steroid boxes and steroid vials.
Daniel Katsogiannis pleaded not guilty to three counts of import prohibited imports and three counts of intentionally import prohibited tier one goods without approval at Downing Centre Local Court on January 15, 2019.
The former cop son of one of the state’s most senior police officers has been arrested for allegedly importing large amounts of illegal bodybuilding and erectile dysfunction drugs. Via @LucyHughesJones https://t.co/AeSmLJvgvz
— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) January 15, 2019