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Major GHB Bust

cascadia

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 24, 2000
Messages
696
Location
Portland, OR
http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/09/18/drug.ring/index.html
Feds smash 'date rape' drug ring
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Hundreds of federal law enforcement officials in several states and Canada Wednesday began arresting operators and customers of an alleged Internet-based drug ring that illegally sold three popular chemical depressants widely known as "date rape" drugs, government sources said.
All of the major suspects are in custody, sources said.
Officials said they expect at least several dozen arrests to result from nearly 200 investigations in about 80 towns and cities in at least eight states.
Officials said the arrests mark the first time they have seen the Internet used to sell such drugs. GHB, gamma hydroxy butyrate, is one of the chemical depressants that was allegedly sold online.
Colorless, odorless "date rape" drugs are frequently used to spike drinks in hopes of rendering a person unconscious, or at least unable to resist sexual advances. The drugs can also cause seizures, severe respiratory depression, comas and death. The Drug Enforcement Administration has documented 72 deaths relating to GHB and its derivatives.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and top officials from the DEA, Customs Service, Postal Inspection Service and the FBI plan to announce the results of the investigations Thursday in a news conference at the Drug Enforcement Administration's headquarters.
Suspects have been arrested in Quebec; Buffalo, New York; Mobile, Alabama; Sparta, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; San Diego, California; and St. Louis, Missouri officials said.
The drugs were being offered for sale on Web pages and mailed to purchasers. Some customers were major distributors of the drugs, authorities said.
Organizers of the alleged cybercrime operations netted hundreds of thousands of dollars.
[ 19 September 2002: Message edited by: cascadia ]
 
ive always wondered why people get iunto selling GHB..imean, from what i can see, there isnt much profit tome made off it and thne legal probs associated with it just make it worthless to deal...
stick to dealing X, WEED, or even ROID if you are into that crowd..
 
Originally posted by cascadia:

Officials said the arrests mark the first time they have seen the Internet used to sell such drugs. GHB, gamma hydroxy butyrate, is one of the chemical depressants that was allegedly sold online.

I know I really shouldn't be surprised but... aren't they a little behind the times with this statement? I mean, I thought I remember all the original (horror) stories about G revolved around the fact that is was "available on the INTERnet" <queue ominous music> once again highlighting the evil nature of the SuperHighway straight to Hell.
Eh... guess I have to go back to clubbing them over the head to get some. So much more messy.
doc
 
Does anybody know if it's GHB or GBL and 1,4BD that is causing these arrests? I don't think there is a company that ships pure GHB into the US only GBL and 1,4BD.
 
I wonder if it had anything to do w/ that stupid site that spammed BL'ers emails w/ their site claiming it was selling GBL from canada or something. It sure as hell sounded like a setup :)
 
Here:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020919/ts_nm/crime_drugs_dc
U.S. Busts 'Date Rape' Internet Drug Traffickers
Thu Sep 19, 2:48 PM ET
By Deborah Charles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Canadian authorities arrested 115 people and broke up four distribution rings in the first crackdown on Internet traffickers of "date rape" drugs, officials said on Thursday.
Asa Hutchinson, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said DEA agents and law enforcement officials began "Operation Webslinger" on Wednesday. It has resulted in 115 arrests in 84 cities across the United States and in Quebec City, Canada.
"We have dismantled four nationwide drug distribution rings in this first-ever operation that targets Internet traffickers of the date-rape drugs called GHB, GBL and 1,4 Butanediol or BD," Hutchinson said at a news conference. "These criminals are leaders and mid-level brokers of Internet drug-trafficking rings.
"The long arm of the law today clearly has reached deep into cyberspace to send a clear message: Law enforcement will pierce the cloak of secrecy surrounding e-drug traffickers and bring them to justice."
Operation Webslinger was a two-year investigation that targeted individuals and organizations supplying large quantities of GHB, GBL and/or 1,4 Butanediol ordered over the Internet and delivered by mail.
GHB, or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, is a depressant that has increased in popularity in recent years and has become known as a "date rape" drug. It causes drowsiness, loss of inhibition and memory loss and is often slipped into a victim's drink.
GBL, or Gamma Butyrolactone, is an industrial solvent used in the production of GHB. It is used in making paint strippers and surface cleaners. BD, or 1,4 Butanediol, is an industrial solvent that also turns into GHB in the body. It is marketed and sold as a printer cleaner and nail polish remover.
A dose is usually about one capful of the liquid but higher doses can cause seizures, respiratory distress or death.
In addition to being used as a "date rape" drug found often at rave parties and in clubs, GHB is being touted by dealers as a safe alternative to alcohol because it gives the same feeling as several drinks but cannot be detected in a breath test.
The arrests included 27 people who ran Internet-based distribution rings of the drug and their major customers. The major arrests took place around St. Louis, Detroit, Mobile, Alabama and Buffalo, New York.
CANADIAN ARRESTS
Canadian authorities also arrested three people in the Quebec City, including Daniel Pelchat, who operated several Web sites that advertised GHB kits and distributed them through the U.S. Postal Service. The Canadian ring was exporting the product to about 20 countries.
Officials seized $1 million in assets and 3,300 gallons of GBL and BD. The drugs seized equate to more than 25 million doses, which sell for $10 per dose on the street.
"Today's announcement is a dose of harsh reality for drug traffickers who seek to exploit the vast markets and anonymity of cyberspace," said Attorney General John Ashcroft ( news - web sites).
DEA officials said the major arrests included a mother and son team who sold the drug from Festus, Missouri. They had marketed the drug as Miracle Cleaning products since 1999 and hired mentally handicapped workers to mix the product.
Kevin and Ronald Brown of Sparta, Tennessee, marketed the drug on their Blue Raine Web site that sold ink jet supplies. They grossed more than $1 million, officials said. At least one person who bought the drug from them had died, they said.
 
This is ridiculous. Now how am I supposed to get that special buzz I get from 1,4 and other illegal drugs??? No but seriously, I will ONLY roll if I have G or GBL, or 1,4. Good thing I have about a year's worth left. I have a feeling my Canadian contact is gone...
:(
[ 19 September 2002: Message edited by: rollergirl76 ]
 
My cousin was one of these busted yesterday.
Ordered from a Pelchat associate about six weeks ago. About a week and a half ago he still had not received his package. So he emails and they ask him if he wants a refund or reship. He chooses reship. So yesterday afternoon his wife answers the door and there is a plain clothes mailman wanting a signature for a package. DUH this hsould have been the first clue! His wife attempts to sign for it and is told, "No! It's in *****'s name, he needs to sign for it." So my cousin signs for it. He walks out onto his patio and opens it. He notices that the bottle is only half full and has time to say, "What the fuck?!" And BOOM...17 DEA agents in full SWAT gear pinning both their heads to the ground with guns drawn.
They end up taking 750ml GBL, some pharmies he didn't have a prescription for, weed, K and a few tabs of E. And they seized his computer for "links".
24 hours later he is still in jail and has not seen a judge. He keeps being rescheduled. His wife called the court and they stated, "we will get to him when we get to him." WTF?!
And I want ot make it very clear that this was NOT for selling. Every few months he would buy some GBL for his own use. As a matter of fact he was kinda stingy with it!!
 
man, that's REALLY sad. :( The laws on this drug get very technical and a bit weird. I am not sure if they can charge him with anything if they can't prove he was using it on himself or others. Either way, keep us updated please. I think we should all know what happens because this could effect us all and it is kind of writing history.
Good luck
 
How exactly are they prosecuting people for buying 1,4BD? Talk about a waste of tax payers money.
 
B3, if he ordered GBL from Canada then he can definitely be prosecuted. GBL is a List I precursor. Importation of List I precursors without the requisite DEA license is a federal offense.
 
I thought the list 1 restrictions were all on the supplier's end. I know that a decent number of people got letters in the mail (from customs) instead of their packages. I guess they won't play that game any longer.
 
I've had over 8liters seized over the past couple months from pelchat's affiliates.
I'm just waiting for the visit from the postal inspector.
lol...
 
Originally posted by B3:
I thought the list 1 restrictions were all on the supplier's end.
Not true.
With List I chemicals there are primarily 4 laws you have to be worried about:
1) Selling without a DEA permit.
2) Purchasing using fraudulent information.
3) Possession with intent to manufacture Scheduled or Listed substances.
4) Importation.
Only the first one listed above pertains to the seller.
Now, if you purchased from a place located in the US then you wouldn't have to worry about the importation aspect....then they would have to prove that you intended to manufacture GHB (or that you intended to consume it, in which case they would have to use the Analogue Act to prosecute since GBL isn't specifically scheduled).
 
Originally posted by twigburst:
Also, list 1 is only for large amounts (buying) or any amount (selling).
Please refrain from posting if you don't know what you're talking about....you're simply posting incorrect information and defeating the purpose of this entire forum.
 
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