Pair in horse drugs probe
February 19, 2007 - news.com.au
A MAN and a woman from Melbourne are under investigation over a major seizure of a dangerous animal tranquilliser used by nightclubbers.
The pair were questioned after 10kg of the horse anaesthetic ketamine were seized from a house at Sunshine, in Melbourne's west, on Saturday.
It is believed to be Australia's biggest haul of the drug, which goes by the nickname Special K.
The ketamine would have had an estimated street value of between $1 million and $2.5 millon.
The investigation began on Wednesday when Australian Customs Service officers became suspicious of a package that had arrived at Melbourne airport's cargo section from the African country of Malawi.
They X-rayed the package, which contained two large ornamental timber panels, and allegedly found the ketamine.
Investigators then substituted the drugs for another substance and put it under surveillance as it was delivered to the Sunshine address. They then moved in and arrested three people before searching the property.
A man and a woman were later released without charge and a third person, who is an illegal immigrant, was handed over to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and is being detained.
Investigators are trying to establish whether those arrested are the principal players in the importation or were just receiving it.
Ketamine is frequently used in the manufacture of ecstasy.
It is often taken by itself by users in the nightclub scene and overdoses have been recorded.
Drug counsellor Richard Smith of the Raymond Hader Clinic said ketamine was commonly used by people "coming down" from the methamphetamine "ice".
"It's called the K-hole. It's a near unconscious state. They're conscious but they can't do anything," he said.
Mr Smith said he had also heard of instances of ketamine being used as a date-rape drug.
The maximum penalty for the illegal importation of ketamine is a fine of $110,000.
ACS investigations manager Richard Janeczko said authorities were determined to detect and prevent illegal shipments of the drug bound for Australia.
