A Durban chef was on the run on Wednesday night after a police raid on his Overport home netted an assortment of drugs including 40 000 of the dreaded date rape tablets.

Last week East Coast Radio personality Mags van der Westhuizen went on air to tell of her horror experience of having her drink spiked in a Durban nightclub. She became ill and was taken to hospital.

Police said the city is experiencing a plague of date rape drug incidents at the moment.

The chef, who lives in Sparks Road, Durban, kicked off his black sandals, jumped over a wall and fled as he saw the police approach. Detectives from Operation West – a specialised drug busting squad, arrested one man they say was a “runner” for the chef.

Police called for the elite Task Unit to form a cordon around the block of flats as hundreds of people gathered when news broke of the raid.

Captain Hennie Pelser, of Operation West, said an undercover detective had bought a quantity of Ecstasy tablets and crack cocaine from a man.

“The purchase was successful and once the money changed hands our detectives, who were in unmarked cars, swooped on the flat. The man was arrested. “But the big fish whom we were after fled from his home.

“We searched his flat and in the back of the property we found a steel safe. When we cut open the safe there were 60 blocks of crack cocaine, 40 000 Rivotril tablets – a generic of Rohypnol – the dreaded date rape drug. We also found Ecstasy tablets, mandrax tablets, cocaine capsules and generic Viagra tablets for men and women.

“We estimate in total that the drugs are worth more than R800 000 on the street,” said Pelser.

Pelser said police would be seeking a warrant of arrest for the chef, who is presently out on bail for several other drug related charges.

Provincial police Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said the raid and the seizure of the drugs was very significant, especially the large number of date rape tablets.

“The police are constantly receiving complaints from parents and young girls who say that they had been knocked unconscious and when they regain consciousness they cannot remember what happened to them. In many cases the victims had been sexually assaulted. These drugs are mainly used in the club scene,” said Naidoo.

Also present during the raid were members from the Scorpions and the Asset Forfeiture Unit, who are looking at the possibility of seizing assets which may be from the proceeds of crime.

Date rape has increased considerably. In recent weeks several young woman have been raped after having their drinks spiked.

What is rohypnol (date rape drug)?
Rohypnol is a strong sedative and is often prescribed as a sleeping pill in some countries, but it is illegal in the US.

Rohypnol comes in a tablet form with “Roche” imprinted on one side. The drug is a benzodiazepine like Valium, but is 10 times stronger.

Rohypnol began entering the USA by being smuggled into Texas, Arizona, California and Florida from Mexico.

Upon taking Rohypnol, a person may feel sleepy or drunk. These feelings could last for eight hours. Rohypnol can also cause blackouts that may last for 24 hours, and amnesia, causing the person under the influence to forget what happened during this time.

The drug is often used in combination with alcohol – producing a lack of inhibition and amnesia. Mixing the drug with other drugs or alcohol produces the potential for overdose or death.

Continued use of Rohypnol will lead to physical dependence.

This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on April 21, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>