Man charged for allegedly importing 'fantasy'

A man has appeared in court for allegedly importing more than 24kg of the class B drug Gamma Butyrolactone, commonly known as GBL or fantasy.

His arrest comes after Customs officers at the International Mail Centre, which is located in Auckland Airport, intercepted a package from Hong Kong, which was declared to contain cleaning products.

Analysis of the 24.24kg of liquid showed it was actually the party drug GBL, which would have an estimated street value of between $100,000 and $150,000.

Police have arrested a 31-year-old Invercargill man, who appeared in court yesterday charged with importation of GBL and possession of the substance for supply.

He was further charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Police Minister Judith Collins said the haul sent a clear message to people thinking about importing drugs: "you will get caught".

"This drug is a danger to our society and needs to be off the streets and away from our families," she said.

GBL has been a class B controlled drug since 2002. The maximum jail term for importation and possession for supply of the drug is 14 years imprisonment.