A Netanya resident in his 20s was arrested on Friday after landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport with a massive amount of the so-called "date rape" drug, or GBL, which he had attempted to smuggle into the country.
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The man was arrested following a joint operation over the past few weeks into the importation of illegal drugs into Israel between the Israel Police's Central Police Unit and unit 747, an undercover unit whose jurisdiction is around the airport.
The suspect, who has dual citizenship, had more than 10 liters of GBL in his possession, which is also known as liquid ecstasy and has been known to be used as a rape drug. One drop of the substance into a glass is enough to impair the senses and even cause a person to pass out. The amount that was caught was enough to save thousands of potential victims.
As part of the investigation, officers surveilled the suspect as he landed in Israel on Friday, watching him as he disembarked from the plane and then following him through passport control and to baggage claim where he retrieved the suitcase in which the drug was found.
The undercover officers arrested the suspect after he retrieved the luggage. The drug was disguised as mineral water and was passed on to Israel Police's forensic labs for further testing.
The suspect was taken in for further questioning, and the police intend on requesting that a judge extend his remand in custody in accordance with the needs of the investigation.
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