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27 Gallons Of Date Rape Drug Seized At Airport

Last updated on Tuesday, October 7, 2014

(INDIANAPOLIS) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working express consignment operations at the Indianapolis International Airport have had a busy month, seizing 27 gallons of Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), a strong intoxicant used as a precursor of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) - a Schedule I Controlled Substance.

"These are significant interceptions by our [Customs] officers during the month of September," said Ted Thomas, Acing Port Director in Indianapolis. "[Customs] is on the frontline at our nation's ports of entry, targeting and stopping illegal shipments containing dangerous substances that threaten the health and safety of our communities."

The GBL seized during this time frame originated from various countries and in most cases the destinations included locations in the United States. Misleading invoice descriptions were attached to shipments in an attempt to disguise illicit contents.

When consumed, the human body converts GBL to GHB. Popularized in recent years as a recreational drug among young adults at dance clubs, GBL has also been used to render a victim incapable of resisting advances, which is why it is commonly referred to as a "date-rape" drug.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), GBL is an industrial solvent commonly used to produce polyurethane, pesticides, elastic fibers, pharmaceuticals, coating on metal or plastic, and other products. GBL is also sold illicitly as a supplement for bodybuilding, fat loss, reversal of baldness, improved eyesight, and to combat aging, depression, drug addiction and insomnia. The sale of GBL is illegal for any purpose other than intended industrial and legitimate applications.

The estimated street value of the seized GBL is approximately $35,000.

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