Former NRL player charged with manufacturing illegal peptides

By Grace CrivellaroABC IllawarraTopic:CrimePosted Wed 4 Nov 2026 at 4:02pmWed 4 Nov 2026 at 4:02pmTrent Merrin (centre) will plead not guilty to all the charges, his lawyer says. (ABC News)In short:Former NRL player Trent Merrin has been charged with manufacturing illegal peptides.The 37-year-old was charged with five offences on Tuesday after a lengthy police investigation.What's next?Mr Merrin will face court over the matter on November 24.Former NRL player Trent Merrin has been accused of taking part in the manufacture of illegal peptides after a "clandestine lab" was uncovered in a police raid in July.Mr Merrin, 37, was arrested and granted police bail on Tuesday following a months-long investigation.The former St George Illawarra Dragons player and State of Origin representative has been charged with four counts of manufacturing goods for use in humans resulting in harm or injury and one count of participating in a criminal group contributing criminal activity.His solicitor, Paul McGirr, said Mr Merrin would plead not guilty to all the charges."We will request a brief of evidence and take it from there," Mr McGirr said.The alleged clandestine lab police say they uncovered in Shell Cove. (NSW Police)NSW Police said an Organised Crime Squad strike force had been working with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), to investigate the alleged manufacture, supply and distribution of peptides."On Friday 24 July 2026, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant in Shell Cove, where police uncovered an alleged clandestine peptide manufacturing facility and large quantities of restricted substances," police said in a statement.Illegal peptides are short chains of amino acids that have not been evaluated or approved by regulatory bodies and are increasingly being advertised online for weight loss and muscle growth, according to the TGA.Police allege large quantities of restricted substances were found at a Shell Cove property. (NSW Police)Police first arrested a 39-year-old man as part of the investigation on August 14 and charged him with four counts of manufacturing goods for use in humans resulting in harm or injury.His matter has been finalised in court.Mr Merrin was later arrested and charged and will face Wollongong Local Court on November 24.