A MORDIALLOC man has been charged with drug trafficking after a series of raids across the south-east of Melbourne last week.
Police raided a factory in Moorabbin, two storage sheds in Springvale, and a factory in Clayton on 20 November. They allegedly seized 370kgs of 1,4-Butanediol, large quantities of steroids and prescription medication from the storage facility, and 730kgs of 1,4-Butanediol, 20 litres of tartaric acid and a large “sophisticated packed up clandestine laboratory” from the Clayton property.
On 21 November police arrested a 36-year-old Mordialloc man. They allege that they found 10kgs of unidentified powder and stolen registration plates in his car. After raiding two more properties in Mordialloc and Highett, police charged the man with trafficking large commercial quantities of 1,4-Butanediol, possessing substance, material document/equipment for trafficking, and possessing a prescribed pre-cursor (sodium borohydride, methylamphetmine hydrochloride and iodine). He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 13 January.
Victoria Police detective acting inspector Mark Newlan, of the clandestine laboratory squad, said the seized 1,4-Butanediol is equivalent to 100,000 potentially lethal doses. “While there are legitimate uses for 1,4-Butanediol as an industrial solvent – or cleaning product – it is an incredibly dangerous product to consume which can have fatal consequences,” he said.
“Criminal syndicates care only for the profits this dangerous substance can make them – substituting it for GHB given the cheaper price. Overwhelmingly what users believe is GHB is 1,4-Butanediol. “The drug can be unpredictable and the difference between survival and a fatal overdose can be very small. There is absolutely no safe amount to ingest — that’s why we’re committed to removing it from unintended hands.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 27 November 2024