EDMONTON – An Edmonton man and woman are facing numerous charges in connection with alleged trafficking of cocaine and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), commonly known as the “date rape drug.”
“This was an extensive investigation, which culminated with one of the largest seizures of GHB in Alberta,” said EPS Staff Sgt. Carlos Cardoso, of the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Unit in a release.
“These are significant arrests. This is a drug (GHB) that if ingested, can easily have deadly consequences for the user, as evidenced by three deaths in Ontario.”
On Tuesday, the accused woman was seen by police unloading several boxes of GHB and carrying them into her home. The Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant on the Clareview residence, where they found and seized the following:
– 106 litres of GHB
– one kilogram soft cocaine
– half a kilogram of hard cocaine
– various paraphernalia used for the conversion and packaging of cocaine
“We have had three other drug busts including this one in the past year and it’s usually between 10 and 20 litres, so this is quite the significant find,” added Cardoso.
The cocaine has an estimated street value of close to $80,000. The total estimated street value of the GHB is $212,000 ($1,000 per 500ml bottle).
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The male suspect was also carrying close to $15,000 in cash, which was also seized, at the time of his arrest.
Police say they’ve seen an increase of GHB in Edmonton over the last couple years.
Some quick facts on GHB:
- Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) is an illegal drug. In a medical setting GHB is used as an anesthetic, but is also used as an intoxicant on the street.
- GHB is commonly referred to as “liquid ecstasy or the “date rape drug” (because of the amnesia-type effect it produces). In Edmonton, though, police say they’re predominantly seeing it being used at club events by people wanting to get high.
- In small doses of GHB can act as a stimulant and aphrodisiac.
- The drug is fairly short-acting. Users will usually feel the effects after five to 20 minutes, and the drug will stay in their system anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours.
- Consuming GHB with alcohol is dangerous as it can lead to vomiting, in combination with unconsciousness, and can potentially be lethal.
- GHB may be found as a white crystalline powder, or as GHB salt dissolved in water to form a clear odourless and colourless solution, with an oily appearance, as the GHB crystals may not completely dissolve in water.
- In its liquid form, GHB is commonly found in small vials or water bottles.
- GHB is traditionally manufactured in illicit drug labs where consumers have little knowledge or control over the drugs content.
Nicholas Harris, 31, and 24-year-old Negin Bahmani are each charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and cocaine conversion.
More to come…
With files from Amy Judd, Global News
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