15 charged by police over importation of GBL
Wellington police have charged 15 people for various roles in a drug syndicate which is alleged to have imported more than 7000 litres of GBL, equating to over $1 billion in social harm.
In February, a man was charged with importing more than 2200L of GBL (gammabutyrolactone), also known as liquid ecstasy, rinse or the ‘‘date rape’’ drug.
Now charges have been laid for an additional 5000L after 70 police and Customs staff carried out 22 search warrants at properties in Wellington, Hutt Valley, Ka¯ piti, Horowhenua and Palmerston North.
It followed search warrants at multiple Wellington properties in November, where 400L of the drug was seized, along with an excess of 20 kilograms of
eutylone, which police have labelled phase one of Operation Skipjack.
Phase two, which resulted in the recent search warrants, led to the arrests of eight men and three women, aged between 25 and 44. Cash totalling $60,000, three firearms, including a semiautomatic firearm, 70 rounds of ammunition and 1kg in methamphetamine were seized.
A total of 50 charges have been filed over the two phases including importation of Class A, B and C controlled drugs – methamphetamine, GBL, and eutylone – possession for supply and offering of Class A, B and C controlled drugs and burglary. Four people were previously charged in relation to phase one, taking the total number of arrests to 15.
In total, the more than 7000L of GBL that police believed has been imported, is the equivalent to more than $1b in community harm and equates to $28 million in street value, if sold at $20 for a 3-5ml dose.
The Ministry of Health drug harm index (2016) calculates the harm caused to the community by drugs, which includes the cost of crime attributable to drug use, injury to others, the various harms to family and friends and a reduced tax base.