Cairns man fined for accidentally bringing back steroids

An Australian man has received a stiff sentence for accidentally bringing home 400 testosterone tablets from Bali thinking they were Viagra.

Leander Birkegaard Andersen told Cairns Commonwealth Court that he thought he was purchasing Viagra for his friend at a pharmacy while holidaying on the Indonesian island.

He had initially denied the tablets were steroids, Cairns Post reported. 

‘I bought the tablets thinking they were Viagra for my mate.

‘That’s what I asked the pharmacists for in Bali.

‘They’re saying I filled the statutory declaration out incorrect,’ he told the court.

The mix-up had cost the first time offender dearly.

The full-time FIFO (fly-in fly-out) worker has been slapped with a $2,500 fine and has had his convictions recorded.

The court was told that Anderson was caught with the pills placed inside gum vials at the Darwin airport on August, 2014.

Andersen, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully importing prohibited imports and making a false or misleading statement’.

He was unaware that Viagra came under the ‘medicine’ category and admitted that the tablets were wrapped in a different kit.

Magistrate Alan Comans said the matter was serious as it includes offences pertaining to concealment and providing false statements.

In Australia, the possession, use and supply of steroids, other than by prescription from a medical practitioner, dentist or veterinarian is illegal.

Andersen told court that he thought he had Viagra instead of steroids from Bali (stock image)