A South Australian man is facing three charges of importing and possessing a border controlled drug after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers uncovered an attempt to import 1,4-Butanediol into Australia, a harmful substance known on the streets as a 'date-rape' drug.
ABF officers began an investigation on Tuesday 1 October 2024 after two packages imported from China into New South Wales were allegedly found to contain bottles of a liquid - weighing a total of 22.6kg - which tested positive for 1,4-Butanediol.
The packages were intended for an address in the northern Adelaide suburb of Davoren Park.
On Wednesday (16 October 2024), officers substituted the drug with a harmless liquid and, with the assistance of the South Australian Police (SAPOL), carried out a managed delivery to the Davoren Park address where the man accepted the packages.
ABF then executed search and seizure warrants at the property under sections 198 and 203 of the Customs Act 1901, where a number of items were seized, including the two recently delivered packages, two mobile phones, anabolic steroids, a CCTV hard drive and cameras, multiple bags of marijuana, and additional bottles of , which also tested positive to 1,4-Butanediol.
The 35-year-old man was arrested and charged with:
Two counts of import of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely 1,4-Butanediol, contrary to section 307.1 of the criminal code, and
One count of possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely 1,4-Butanediol, contrary to section 307.8 of the criminal code
ABF Inspector Steve Garden said 1,4-Butanediol was declared by authorities as a border controlled drug in March this year, after reports of the escalating harm from the use of the drug, which can be substituted for gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB.
"While there are legitimate uses for bute as an industrial solvent, it is found to increasingly be used as an illicit substance or precursor, as it slows down the body's nervous system when ingested," Inspector Garden said.
"This makes it an extremely dangerous drug that unfortunately can prove fatal, while reports are on the rise of it also being linked to sexual assaults.
"Be assured our officers are on high alert to the illegal importation of bute into Australia, as criminal syndicates attempt to make profits from this dangerous substance with no care or concern about the harm and misery it causes in our community."
The man appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday (17 October 2024), where he was remanded in custody for a committal hearing on Thursday 12 December 2024.
