Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has seized around $1.8 million worth of a substance used to make a date-rape drug.
According to the CBSA, its Pacific Region Intelligence Section identified a “container of interest” at a Metro Vancouver port.
The container was examined by officers and collected samples from multiple drums.
These samples were sent to the CBSA’s Contraband Drug Analysis Section in Ottawa and analysis confirmed that the substance was gamma-butyrolactone, a controlled substance also known as 'GBL'.
GBL, said CBSA, is a “Class A Precursor” essential to the production of controlled substances, such as “date-rape” drugs.
In total, the CBSA seized 17,852.5 litres of GBL with an estimated street value of over $1.8 million.
The investigation into the importers, said CBSA, is ongoing.
"Through an effective and successful investigation, border services officers and intelligence personnel prevented the potential manufacture of thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs,” said J.J. Chayeski, director of CBSA’s Metro Vancouver Operations Division, Pacific Region.
“This significant seizure illustrates the CBSA’s commitment and vigilance to protecting our communities from harmful drugs and substances by impeding the ability of criminals to operate across our borders.”
