Axio Labs Founder Brian Wainstein Murdered in Professional Hit

Brian Wainstein, the founder and operator of multiple famous underground laboratories including GenXXL and Axio Labs, was murdered in the early morning hours of August 18, 2017. Wainstein appeared to be the target of a professional hit.

The 45-year old Wainstein was arrested on an international arrest warrant in Capetown, South Africa on January 19, 2013. Wainstein had been on the run for over 3 years. Wainstein was quickly released from jail on bail after he paid a $50,000 bond. 

For the past four years, Wainstein had been vigorously fighting extradition to the United States while living comfortably in the upscale suburban Capetown neighborhood of Constantia. He had been wanted by authorities in the United States after he was indicted on five counts including conspiracy to manufacture and to distribute anabolic steroids and money laundering.

Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut, a spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), told local news outlets that Wainstein was shot several times while he was asleep in his bed with his wife and young son. The wife and son were physically unharmed. 

The culprits were two unidentified men who entered Wainstein’s house at approximately 01:00 am on Friday morning. The men took three mobile phones and nothing else. The manner of and circumstances surrounding the shooting strongly suggested that it was a professional hit. Wainstein’s house had an advanced, high-end security system and he was known to always travel with bodyguards. Yet, the would-be assassins were able to evade his security measures.

Police have not released any information on the motive behind the hit.

"The motive for the murder is yet to be determined and no one has been arrested as yet," Lt. Col. Traut said.

In spite of Wainstein’s reputation as the “steroid king” and his involvement in steroid trafficking, it appears increasingly unlikely that his murder had anything specifically to do with the steroid trade. Wainstein was considered a local “gangster” who was involved in many illegal other activities. 

Wainstein had recently been seen with several underworld crime figures according to police. In November 2016, Western Cape police pulled over Wainstein because his BMW 750 had invalid registration plates. He was arrested after they discovered 12 uncut diamonds with no ownership documentation in Wainstein’s possession.

Federal prosecutors in Tennessee claimed that Wainstein’s Axio Labs generated over $8 million in sales during the four-year period between 2004 and 2008. Wainstein had been wanted by law enforcement officials in at least three countries - the United States, Germany and Canada. Wainstein was once on Interpol's most wanted list.

One thing is for certain, the United States won’t be extradited Wainstein any time soon.

Source:

Dolley, C. (August 18, 2017). International 'Steroid King' shot dead in Cape Town home in possible hit. Retrieved from http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/international-steroid-king-shot-dead-in-cape-town-home-in-possible-hit-20170818