A 33 year old man has been arrested and has appeared before the courts in Sydney charged with importing approx 30 litres of Gamma-Butylrolactone (GBL), which is used in the manufacture of the date-rape drug known as Fantasy.
GBL when entering the body metabolises into the drug gamma-hydoxybutryate (GHB). It can cause memory loss, abrupt loss of consciousness, respiratory difficulties, coma and death.
Investigations began at Sydney airport when Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers examined a consignment that arrived via air cargo from China.
The cargo was manifested as a plastic drum, declared as a legal substance.
Officers investigated the shipment, which was a clear liquid. Introductory testing of the material returned a positive result for the existence of GBL.
With the matter being turned over to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) a search warrant was executed. It is alleged that the man attempted to dispose of the plastic drum, which was later located at a park.
The man was arrested and charged with attempting to possess a quantity of a border controlled drug namely Gamma-Butylrolactone.
ACBPS Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald, said the detection was an important one for the community.
“This is dangerous substance, capable of ruining many lives in a single incident,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
If found guilty, the maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment and/or a $1,275,000 fine.
Source: Australian Customs and Border Protection
Image Credits: Daily Telegraph
