INTERNET ‘DATE RAPE’ DRUG TRAFFICKING RINGS BUSTED

Authorities broke up four Internet drug-trafficking rings operating in the United States and Canada, making more than 100 arrests and seizing enough chemicals for 25 million doses of the date rape drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, and similar substances.  Federal, state and local police began the investigation, called Operation Webslinger, two years ago.  It ranged from Internet drug rings in St. Louis; Detroit; San Diego; Mobile, Alabama; Sparta, Tennessee; Buffalo, New York and Quebec City.  Daniel Pelchat of St. Etienne, Quebec, described by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kennedy in Buffalo as one of the biggest providers of GHB in the world, was indicted for unlawful use of the Internet and importation of GBL and BD after 1,452 gallons of the chemicals were seized Wednesday from his business and residence.  The ring operating in Detroit and San Diego relied on personal e-mail accounts and word of mouth to market its products.  The alleged San Diego connection to the ring, Larry Waychoff, is a fugitive.  The Missouri network, an Internet company called Miracle Cleaning Products, sold to customers in 41 states and was allegedly run by a mother and son team, Cassandra Harvey, 53, of Festus, Mo., and Joshua Harvey.  The Harveys were being held yesterday and awaited a detention hearing Monday in St. Louis.

(Washington)