A man has pleaded guilty following a Metropolitan Police investigation which uncovered more than 2,000 litres of GBL, a liquid drug which is linked to spiking and the chemsex scene.

Following an investigation into a series of drug offences in the north west of England, Greater Manchester Police passed intelligence to Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit, suggesting large qualities of GBL was being transported from Manchester to London, alongside the supply of crystal meth from London to Manchester.

Officers examined months of phone data to establish the involvement of Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, 61 (27.07.1964) of Willowbrook Road, Southall. Today he pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of criminal property.

Using cell data, officers located three addresses – two in Ealing, and one in Southall – linked to Fathi that were believed to be used to store significant amounts of drugs and money. Police attended one of the addresses on Wednesday, 18 March where he was located and arrested on suspicion of the supply of controlled drugs.

Following his arrest, officers searched a storage container rented by Fathi and found 188 boxes, each containing 12 one litre bottles of GBL (2,256 litres). Further items including £100,000 in cash, 456g of crystal meth, ammunition, and a firearm was also found at his property in Ealing.

His conviction comes as part of the Met Police’s sustained focus on reducing harm arising from the inextricable link between drug supply and organised crime in London.

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin who led the investigation said: “Controlled drugs continue to have a devastating impact on communities across London, driving harm, exploitation and wider criminality. This is one of the largest discoveries of GBL in London and we are pleased that we have halted its distribution throughout the city.

“The misuse of GBL and crystal meth tend to be linked to serious offences. We know that drug related offences often pose a barrier for victims, resulting in the crimes going underreported.

“It is our duty as officers to ensure the safety of Londoners and urge victim survivors to come forward. We will continue to work hard to disrupt and root out organised crime groups that supply harmful drugs to our communities.”

GBL and crystal meth are synonymous with chemsex behaviour and can be used in chemsex environments. Adverse effects to the user can cause memory loss, addition, and overdose leading to GBL being well known as a “date rape drug”.

The Met understands there are many sensitivities and concerns around recreational drug taking, particularly in the context of the chemsex scene. We are committed to working closely with partners from the charity sector, addiction specialists and those within health and the wider criminal justice sector to ensure the Met approaches these issues sensitively.

As officers and staff build A New Met for London: Phase two, LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers have also been introduced to ensure every LGBT+ person living or working in the capital is confident to report crime, seek help and share their concerns.

Fathi will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 23 July.