Date-Rape Drug Seized By Customs Officers At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized five plastic bottles of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) Monday at Washington Dulles International Airport, according to a press release. GBL is used in manufacturing gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a date-rape drug.

The five bottles, which contained about 13 pounds, 5 ounces, of GBL, arrived in an international mail parcel from China that was headed to a Los Angeles address. Customs officials were examining the express parcel when they found the plastic bottles. After testing the contents, Customs officials confirmed the presence of GBL, which they then destroyed.

A DEA Schedule 1 controlled substance, GBL is a central nervous system depressant with addictive properties. Sexual predators have been know to use GBL and GHB as date-rape drugs.

“This seizure is a perfect example of how Customs and Border Protection officers rely on extraordinary experience and keen intuition to intercept a mismanifested and dangerous substance that could potentially harm American citizens,” said Anne Maricich, CBP’s acting director of Field Operations, Baltimore Field Office, in the release. “CBP’s border security mission is vital to helping keep our nation and our citizens safe and secure every day.”

On average, Customs officials seize about 3,707 pounds of dangerous drugs daily across the U.S.