Mind-blurring drug to aid sex assaults pushed online

Adelyn Lau

Crooks have turned to selling an illegal drug that blurs people's minds to facilitate sexual assault, Sing Tao Probe found.

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a colorless liquid, with sellers on Telegram claiming it is manufactured in Japan and can be slipped into victims' drinks.

The harmful substance is being blatantly marketed as "losing virginity water" and "obedient water" sold "exclusively" in Hong Kong.

The vendor said the drug is colorless and tasteless and said buyers should mix it with juice or wine, making it more difficult to be detected, while claiming the drug takes effect rapidly and should be used an hour before sexual activity.

The dealer suggested not to take more than half a bottle at a time and that the substance is not suitable for people with heart disease, high blood sugar or high blood pressure. Each bottle was sold for HK$2,500 and can be used five to eight times.

The seller was extremely cautious and refused face-to-face transactions, only willing to ship the product by mail, said Sing Tao Probe.

Some citizens said they had witnessed suspicious incidents involving drunk women.

One witness surnamed Sun recounted seeing a girl alone at a bar who was offered a drink by a stranger. Within two or three minutes, the girl was lying in the women's restroom and unable to answer questions clearly.

Lam, another witness, suggested avoiding drinks offered by strangers. She has seen many women collapse in nightclubs and advised that "appropriate refusal is reasonable as you don't need to offer respect to strangers [with bad intentions]."

President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Hong Kong Dick Sung Ming-tat said: "Most drugs advertised as colorless and tasteless are GHB, which causes users to gradually become unconscious and excited."

Despite sellers claiming half a bottle is harmless, Sung said these claims are not trustworthy as GHB can strongly suppress the central nervous system, potentially leading to respiratory failure or even death.

If anyone suspects they have been drugged, Sung advises to drink copious amounts of water to dilute the drug's concentration in the blood, induce vomiting to expel the drug and immediately contact a trusted person or even the police for help.

Regarding the online sale of suspected date-rape drugs, the Customs and Excise Department said they have been working with mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking.

They have also been in close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industry to intercept smuggled drugs.

Customs emphasized that trafficking dangerous drugs is a serious crime, punishable by a fine of HK$5 million and life imprisonment upon conviction.

Police said that GHB and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), commonly known date-rape drugs, are controlled substances in Hong Kong. The amount authorities seized in the first 11 months of this year has already exceeded the total for 2023.

The force will continue to crack down on drugs while urging citizens to protect themselves by drinking sealed beverages.

adelyn.lau@singtaonewscorp.com