NBI agents seize liquid ecstasy GHB in Mandaluyong raid

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday seized GHB or "liquid ecstasy" in a raid on two units in exclusive residential condominiums in Mandaluyong City, GMA News "24 Oras" reported on Wednesday.

According to the NBI Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit, GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyric, is popular in the US and other countries. It is allegedly a date rape drug.

GHB is also called liquid ecstacy since one drop of GHB is enough to get a user high for three hours. This effect comes with a price tag of P10,000 per 100mL.

"Ang GHB po liquid substance na para lang po siyang na nakalagay sa maliliit na bote. 100 milliliter of GHB would cost a supposed victim P10,000," said NBI-AIDU chief Atty. Joel Tovera.

But this drug does more than getting someone high in one drop.

GHB is said to knock out anyone with just two to three drops.  The victim won't have any recall of what happened when he or she was drugged. But worse, GHB can lead to death.

"Ito po ang napaka-delikado sa kalusugan ng mga gumagamit.... Sa katotohanan po, unang pagkakataon na naka-operate ang NBI ng ganitong klaseng droga," added Tovera.



Aside from the US, GHB is also popular in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Europe where it is also used as an anti-depressant.

During the raid, the NBI arrested African national Ashimiyu Balogun who was allegedly high during the operation and Filipina model Mica Atanacio, who said to be the distributor of GHB in Makati, Mandaluyong, and Manila cities. But she denied all allegations.

Inside the units, the NBI found drug paraphernalia, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, and shabu.

The NBI is still looking for the Fil-Am Dennis Tique and American Aaron Doe, the alleged chemist of the drug.

According to NBI, the first case related to GHB involved a Korean-American and two Filipinas who were arrested during their operations the past few days. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News