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<\/p>\nTwo people have been arrested after police seized more than $4 million worth of the illicit drug gamma-butyrolactone from a Wairarapa storage unit.<\/p>\n
Police were alerted to suspicious behaviour by members of the public and located a storage container in Featherston containing about 820 litres of GBL earlier this week.<\/p>\n
“The drugs have an estimated street value of $4.1 million and enough quantity for over 500,000 individual doses,” police said.<\/p>\n
Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) \u2013 also known as Fantasy or liquid ecstasy \u2013 was a depressant that can cause nausea, grogginess, confusion and memory loss.<\/p>\n
A 35-year-old woman from Tawa and a 39-year-old man from Porirua have been arrested and charged with possession of GBL for supply.<\/p>\n
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More than 800 litres of gamma butyrolactone was found in a storage unit in Featherston on Monday. (Source: NZ Police)<\/p>\n
Inspector Paul Hamyln said officers responded to the storage facility just after 11pm on Monday, where they noticed a strong chemical smell coming from one of the containers.<\/p>\n
“Police conducted an initial scene examination with the assistance of Fire and Emergency New Zealand,\u201d Hamyln said.<\/p>\n
“Clandestine lab specialists from Auckland and PHF Science then carried out further examinations, confirming the presence of GBL inside the container.”<\/p>\n
Hamyln said the seizure was expected to have a significant impact on the illicit drug market.<\/p>\n
“The seizure of such a large quantity of GBL will result in a significant dent in the GBL market across the Wellington District, and most likely further afield, and prevent significant harm in our communities,” he said.<\/p>\n
The pair were remanded in custody and due to reappear in the Porirua District Court on January 13.<\/p>\n