ONE4B DRUGS SEIZED BY HEALTH MINISTRY IN TIMARU RAIDS

A Timaru property, the backdrop for an Internet-order "legal high"
operation, was raided by the Ministry of Health and police on Tuesday
afternoon.

Alphaware NZ, "suppliers of legal highs", had bottles of Puritech (GHB-OH)
head cleaning solution and sachets of One4b taken by ministry staff and police.

A company spokesman told One News on Tuesday night that he supplied the
product to several distributers, including Auckland-based Outerspace, which
has been distributing the legal party drug One4b, responsible for four
hospital admissions in the last week.

Ministry communications manager Peter Abernethy confirmed on Tuesday night
that ministry staff were at the Timaru premises, and action taken was part
of the investigation into One4b. He would not comment further.

Puritech and One4b contain 1,4 butanediol, an industrial solvent. Puritech
is marketed as a record, CD and head cleaner and carries a warning to keep
it out of the reach of children.

One4b is a legal version of the banned drug Fantasy, also known as GHB, or
liquid ecstasy. It is sold in New Zealand, via distributors and through the
Internet.

Mark and Kate Barlow, who run Outerspace, say One4b is safe and beneficial,
if taken correctly.

Mrs Barlow said the company obtained its product from a Timaru supplier in
litre bottles and re-packaged it in Auckland.

Alphaware NZ sells Puritech in litre bottles for $165 (including postage)
and 300ml bottles for $65.

A double sachet (10 and 5mls) of One4b had been sold for $20.

The ministry stopped the distribution of One4b on Monday, and warned the
public not to take the drug.

Police and the Medical Association want it banned.

Director General of Health Karen Poutasi said One4b may have breached the
Food Act and possibly the Medicines Act. If it had, its distributors were
likely to be prosecuted.

The Health Ministry investigation would look at whether the drug could be
legally sold as a dietary supplement.

The latest victim of an apparent overdose of One4b was released from
Auckland Hospital early on Tuesday.

The man, 20, was flown to hospital on Monday night from Piha Beach,
northwest of Auckland, in a coma after taking the drug.

A spokesman for the hospital said he had been kept in hospital for about
six hours and discharged just after 1am.

He was the fourth person in as many days to be hospitalised after taking
the drug, being marketed as a dietary supplement.