Pubdate: Sat, 9 Jan 1999
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Author: Kirsten Searer

NEWPORT BEACH AUTHORITIES SEIZE A HALF-GALLON OF THE MEMORY IMPAIRING
SUBSTANCE.

Newport Beach Police seized a half-gallon of so-called date-rape drug
late Thursday from a man thought to have cornered a chunk of the
substance's Newport Beach market.

Several bottles of gamma hydrozybutyrate - a clear, odorless liquid -
were found marked "Not water, do not drink" in a refrigerator at 3715
Seashore Drive, said police Sgt. Mike McDermott.

Brian David Altneu, 37, was arrested on suspicion of possessing
dangerous drugs with the intent to sell them. He is being held on
$200,000 bail at Newport Beach city jail.

The bottles held about 200 doses of the liquid, worth $4,000 to $5,000
total, McDernott said.

The seizure is Newport Beach's biggest and stems from an investigation
of growing use of the drug in night clubs and at "raves," he said.

A capful of the drug can cause a nightlong high. It also causes memory
loss.

"It will induce vomiting, but people feel so safe they don't realize
they're barfing all over themselves," McDermott said.

The drug has been connected with several Orange County illnesses in
the past few years and at least one rape arrest.

The drug, known as GHB, was outlawed in California in late 1997.
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