Southall Man Jailed After Huge Seizure of Date Rape Drug

Ahoor Ramabark Fathi believed to have sourced GBL in Manchester

Fathi reacts to being told of his arrest. Picture: Met Police

A Southall man has been jailed for 12 years after Metropolitan Police detectives uncovered more than 2,000 litres of GBL – one of the biggest seizures of the drug ever recorded in London – during an investigation into organised drug supply between the capital and the north west of England.

Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, 61, of Willowbrook Road was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 23 July, having earlier pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of criminal property.

The case began when Greater Manchester Police, investigating drug offences in their region, shared intelligence with the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit. Detectives were told that large quantities of GBL were being transported from Manchester to London, while crystal meth was being supplied in the opposite direction.

Met officers spent months analysing phone data, eventually linking Fathi to three addresses in Ealing and Southall believed to be used to store drugs, cash and other criminal property. He was arrested on 18 March at one of the locations.

A search of a storage container rented by Fathi revealed the scale of the operation: 188 boxes, each containing 12 one-litre bottles of GBL – a total of 2,256 litres. Officers also found £100,000 in cash, 456 grams of crystal meth, ammunition and a firearm at an address in Ealing.

GBL – gamma-butyrolactone – is a powerful depressant linked to spiking, sexual assault, and the chemsex scene. It can cause memory loss, addiction and overdose, and is widely known as a “date rape drug”. Crystal meth, similarly associated with chemsex environments, is linked to serious offending and exploitation.

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, who led the investigation, said the seizure represented a major disruption to organised criminal networks operating in London.

“Drug supply causes significant harm to communities across London and is often linked to exploitation, violence and other serious criminality. This seizure represents one of the largest quantities of GBL recovered in London and has prevented a substantial amount of the drug from reaching our streets,” he said.

He added that victims of offences linked to chemsex and drug use often face barriers to reporting crimes, leaving serious harm unaddressed. “Protecting Londoners remains our priority. We encourage anyone who has been affected by these crimes to come forward and speak to police. We will continue to target and dismantle organised crime groups responsible for supplying harmful drugs and causing harm within our communities.”

The Met said it recognises the sensitivities surrounding recreational drug use, particularly within LGBT+ communities, and is working with charities, addiction specialists and health partners to ensure a supportive approach. As part of the force’s New Met for London: Phase Two strategy, LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers have been introduced to help build trust and encourage reporting.