Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2001
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Bob Mitchell, Peel/Halton Bureau Chief

STING FINDS FLOOR-STRIPPING CHEMICAL IN DRUGS

Cleaner Arrested In Connection With Sales Of Date Rape Drug

A Markham cleaner and his girlfriend are facing drug charges after an 
undercover purchase of 13.5 litres of a date rape drug by Peel police.

The buy produced some startling results: The drug was discovered to contain 
the same chemical found in a cleaning solvent used to strip floors.

"This just shows how dangerous these drugs are," Peel morality Inspector 
John Nielsen said. "You never know what's in them. People are using 
everything and anything they can to make this stuff."

The accused man is a professional cleaner with no previous experience 
producing chemicals.

"We're alleging this cleaner was using solvents as part of the mixing 
process and used his job to purchase the material required, mixing his own 
GHB and selling it," Nielsen said. "That stuff is poison."

Ketamine, another club drug normally used as an animal tranquilizer, was 
also seized during the arrest.

Undercover officers purchased the gamma-hydroxybutrate, or GHB - commonly 
known as the date rape drug - in April, paying about $24,000.

"This stuff is usually sold in 10-millilitre vials at raves and dance clubs 
for about $15 a vial," Nielsen said, "so what we purchased could have been 
turned into about 1,350 vials.

"It's important for the public to know that many of these individuals who 
sell illicit drugs have no previous chemical background and are not 
professional chemists.

"People are producing it, selling it and ingesting it, and it's dangerous."

Panagiotis (Peter) Sakatos, 28, of Markham, and Michelle Kissner, 25, of 
Toronto, are charged with drug possession and drug trafficking. Both will 
appear in a Brampton court July 6.
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MAP posted-by: Beth