US CRACKDOWN ON DATE-RAPE DRUG

The authorities in the United States say they have dismantled four big
networks selling illegal date-rape drugs over the internet across the whole
of North America.

They said a sweep across 84 cities had ended in more than 100 arrests - and
the seizure of enough chemicals to make 25 million doses of a drug
frequently used by rapists to subdue their victims.

Customs and FBI officers joined local and federal police in co-ordinating
the raids, the first of their kind.

The main drug targeted was GHB, or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate - an odourless and
colourless liquid often slipped into a woman's drink, causing loss of
consciousness and usually leaving the victim with little or no memory of any
sexual attack.

Attorney General John Ashcroft described the raids as "a dose of harsh
reality for drug traffickers who seek to exploit the vast markets and
anonymity of cyberspace".

"Law enforcement will pierce the cloak of secrecy surrounding e-drug
traffickers and bring them to justice," said Drug Enforcement Administration
Director Asa Hutchinson.

Fast Spread

Operation Webslinger took place on Wednesday and Thursday, though the
investigation began two years ago.

Dealers found customers via websites and personal email accounts, disguising
their products as inkjet printing supplies and cleaning solutions.

News about the websites spread fast, especially among teenagers and young
people.

GHB is also known as "liquid ecstasy" and is passed around at night clubs.
It can be fatal when taken with alcohol.

However, it is also promoted as an alternative to alcohol, giving the same
effect as several drinks but not showing up in a breathalyser test.