A man has been jailed for 12 years after police seized more than 2,000 litres of GBL, a drug commonly known as the “date rape drug.”
Greater Manchester Police passed intelligence to detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit after an investigation suggested large quantities of GBL, a liquid drug which is linked to spiking, was being transported from Manchester to London.
Arrest and seizure
Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, a 61-year-old from Southall, was identified after officers examined months of phone data. Officers attended an address in west London in March where he was arrested on suspicion of the supply of controlled drugs.
Officers searched a storage container rented by Fathi after his arrest, finding 188 boxes, each containing 12 one litre bottles of GBL (2,256 litres). Further items including £100,000 in cash, 456g of crystal meth, ammunition, and a firearm were also found at his property in Ealing.
Court proceedings
In April, 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, and he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday.
Effects of GBL include memory loss, leading to it being known as a “date rape drug”.
Police comment
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 criminality. This seizure represents one of the largest quantities of GBL recovered in London and has prevented a substantial amount of the drug from reaching our streets.
“GBL and crystal meth are frequently associated with serious offences. We recognise that victims can face barriers to reporting crimes linked to drug use and exploitation, which can result in offending going unreported.
“Protecting Londoners remains our priority. We encourage anyone who has been affected by these crimes to come forward and speak to police. We will continue to target and dismantle organised crime groups responsible for supplying harmful drugs and causing harm within our communities.”
