Man jailed after police seize more than 2,000 litres of ‘date rape drug’ GBL
A man has been jailed for 12 years after police discovered more than 2,000 liters of GBL, a liquid drug better known as the ‘date rape drug’, which was linked to the spike.
Police investigating a string of drug crimes in the north-west of England passed intelligence to detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit; this suggested the supply of crystal methamphetamine from London to Manchester, as well as the transport of large quantities of GBL from Manchester to London.
Officers identified Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, 61, of Willowbrook Road, Southall, through phone data.
On Friday, April 17, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of criminal property.
Officers attended three addresses linked to Fathi, two in Ealing and one in Southall, believed to have been used to store significant amounts of drugs and cash. The police went to one of the addresses where he was found and he was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.
Following his arrest, officers searched a storage container rented by Fathi and found 188 boxes, each containing 12 one-litre bottles of GBL (2.256 litres).
GBL’s effects include memory loss, leading it to be known as the “date rape drug.”
Other items, including £100,000 in cash, 456 grams of crystal meth, ammunition and a firearm, were also found at his property in Ealing.
Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, who led the investigation, said: “Drug supply causes significant harm to communities across London and is often linked to exploitation, violence and other serious crime. This seizure represents one of the largest quantities of GBL seized in London and has prevented a significant proportion of the drug from reaching our streets.”
“GBL and crystal methamphetamine are frequently associated with serious crimes. We recognize that victims may face barriers to reporting crimes related to drug use and abuse, which can result in crimes going unreported.
“Protecting Londoners remains our priority. We encourage anyone affected by these crimes to come forward and speak to police. We will continue to target and dismantle organized crime groups responsible for supplying harmful drugs and causing harm to our communities.”
Fathi was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, July 23.
