Lee County Sheriff's Office: Bonita Springs man accused of distributing illegal steroids

A Bonita Springs man was arrested Tuesday after an investigation into an illegal steroid operation in Lee County, the sheriff's office said.

Robert Joseph Ekland, 44, is accused of three counts of possession of synthetic narcotics, three counts of smuggling synthetic narcotic, one count of drug production, one count of marijuana possession with intent to sell, one count of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and one count of possession of drug equipment.

Ekland remains in custody at Lee County Jail on $65,000 bail. 

The investigation was a partnership between the Lee County Sheriff's Office Highway Interdiction Unit, Custom's Officers and Homeland Security Investigations, according to a news release. Authorities say Ekland allegedly manufactured and distributed illegal steroids throughout the county.

Investigators seized more than $2,500, a Glock 9mm handgun, a 2014 Ford F-250 pickup, 4 liters of liquid steroids, 14 kilos of steroid powder, 1/2 pound of marijuana and 270 grams of THC wax during a search of Ekland's home and a storage facility in Lee County.

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