POLICE WARN OF NEW DATE-RAPE DRUG FANTASY

PERTH POLICE yesterday warned of a new drug known as Fantasy infiltrating
nightclubs and pubs, after the largest Australian seizure of the
so-called date rape drug by Perth police last week.

More than two litres of Fantasy - Gamma Hydroxybutyrate - was seized
by police at the port town of Rockingham 45km south of Perth last
Thursday following a drug squad operation.

The drug, which is usually odourless and colourless with a slightly
salty taste, was allegedly coloured with purple dye and concealed in a
wine cask, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul La Spina from the Organised
Crime Squad said.

Two 36-year-old men and a 20-year-old woman have been charged over the
seizure.

"There's been limited seizures in Australia so far and this is
believed to be the largest seizure so far in Australia," Detective La
Spina said.

Fantasy, also known as GBH or GHB, is known as a date-rape drug in the
United States where it is blamed for several deaths, Detective La Spina said.

The drug is usually consumed from small vials, takes five to 25
minutes to take hold, and induces an affect similar to being drunk,
Detective Spina said.

However, it's also known to cause drowsiness, dizziness, loss of
muscle control, amnesia, nausea, vomiting and short term coma.

Detective Spina said the drug could easily be slipped into a drink to
knock someone out.

"Be very observant of what you are drinking," he said in issuing a
warning.

"That's why I've told you about the salty taste that this
has.

"If you think you are drinking water and it's not water, or a cool
drink, if you think there's a salty taste then obviously you'd want to
question what it is."

Four overdoses have been reported in Western Australia since the first
seizure of the drug in June.

There were major seizures in Queensland in 1996 and South Australia in
February this year, Detective La Spina said.

He said the emergence of the drug on the nightclub and pub scene was a
worrying development.

"Because it can cause a coma situation there's been reported deaths in
America," he said.

"It slows the heart rate, so therefore in a coma situation it's
obviously very dangerous."

The drug, which cost $40 to $60 for a vial, is mainly imported from
the US and the UK in powder form which is later diluted in water.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry