<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339173</docID> <postdate>2025-02-27 09:32:57</postdate> <headline>Parcel leads police to 6.5 tonnes of date-rape drug</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339174" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/drug-bust-e1740609046204.jpeg" alt="" width="705" height="471" /></p> <caption>Sydney police have seized more than 6.5 tonnes of date-rape drug bute, worth more than $130 million. Photo: NSW Police</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Farid Farid</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>A parcel containing a common date-rape drug has led police to a man allegedly preparing to supply more than 6.5 tonnes of the prohibited substance worth more than $130 million.</strong></p> <p>Police on Tuesday stopped the 27-year-old as he was driving in western Sydney and seized about 110kg of 1,4-Butanediol - also known as bute - which is commonly linked to sexual assaults.</p> <p>At a storage facility in Homebush, police found 6.3 tonnes of the drug, and $30,000 in cash at an address in Ashfield.</p> <p>Warehouses and post offices played a crucial role in the discovery.</p> <p>Officers who were conducting a Firearms Prohibition Order compliance found a parcel sent from a storage facility containing approximately five litres of bute.</p> <p>The parcel was seized for forensic examination and Strike Force Camena was established to investigate the source.</p> <p>Police found 225kg of bute at a postal facility and then another 23 litres believed to be bute at a nearby post office.</p> <p>This led to the arrest of the driver who had some 110kg in his possession followed by the haul of several tonnes in one storage facility.</p> <p>A 28-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with taking part in supplying a prohibited drug greater than or equal to large commercial quantity.</p> <p> </p> </body>