September 20, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

U.S. crackdown on date rape drugs

LONDON, September 20, Graphic News: U.S. and Canadian authorities say they have dismantled four distribution rings across the whole of North America in the first crackdown on Internet traffickers of Òdate rapeÓ drugs.

Asa Hutchinson, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said DEA agents and law enforcement officials began ÒOperation WebslingerÓ on Wednesday. It has resulted in 115 arrests in 84 cities across the United States and in Quebec City, Canada.

ÒWe have dismantled four nationwide drug distribution rings in this first-ever operation that targets Internet traffickers of date-rape drugsÓ Hutchinson said at a news conference Thursday. ÒThe long arm of the law today has reached deep into cyberspace to send a clear message:  Law enforcement will pierce the cloak of secrecy surrounding e-drug traffickers and bring them to justice.Ó

Operation Webslinger was a two-year investigation that targeted individuals and organizations supplying large quantities of date rape drugs ordered over the Internet and delivered by mail. The use of so called ÒpredatorÓ drugs -- which are added to victimsÕ drinks -- has spread at parties, on campuses and in nightclubs since the early 1990s.

The abuse of GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) -- known as Òliquid ecstasyÓ -- has increased substantially since 1990. In the United States the DEA has documented over 15,600 overdoses and 72 GHB-related deaths in 46 states.

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) -- known as ÒroofiesÓ --  has become the next most common date rape drug. Abuse of Rohypnol began in Europe in the 1970s and started appearing in the United States in the early 1990s

In the United Kingdom, the Roofie Foundation, an advice group for drug-rape victims, said there were 876 cases of drug rape in 2000, a rise of 11% on the 778 cases in the previous year. It estimates the number of victims in 2001 will show a slight increase to about 900 cases. 

The foundation believes the true figure could be five-times that number, because many rape victims do not report the crime. Most victims are between the ages of 18 and 29 years, and one-in eight victims are male.

The Roofie Foundation offers the following advice: 

-- Never ever leave a drink unattended. If you go to the loo take your drink with you. If for whatever reason you have left it unattended do not drink it. 

-- If a stranger offers you a drink do not accept it. Even if workmates or acquaintances offer you a drink make sure you see it either poured or opened and ensure that no one touches it except the barperson prior to drinking it. 

-- If a group of you go out together help to make yourself safe by nominating a person who will not be drinking (i.e., the designated driver), to keep an eye on the groupÕs drinks. 

-- Remember these drugs are tasteless, odourless, and although one (Rohypnol) has a blue dye added to it, this blue dye does not show up for almost 20 minutes. It also does not show up in red wine, in cola or any other dark drinks. It cannot be seen in a coloured bottle (i.e., in a bottle of BeckÕs, Budweiser, or wine bottles). 

-- Wherever possible try to drink out of a bottle or can. It is much more difficult to spike a bottle or can than it is a to drop a drug into a drink in an open glass. 
/ENDS

Sources: The Roofie Foundation

Helpline number 0800 783 2980 or on the web at www.roofie.com