A man living in South London has been jailed for seven years after Met officers launched an investigation into the importation and distribution of the drug GBL (gamma- Butyrolactone) online.
This sentencing comes as the Met reaffirms its pledge to ensure all communities can live safely in the city they call home.
Ricardo MacQueen De Aguiar, 36 (13.08.87) of Hopton Road, Streatham was sentenced to a total of seven years at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, 24 July for:
- importing the class B drug GBL,
- possessing and distributing GBL and,
- two counts of assault on an emergency worker.
He was also sentenced for breaching a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order and issued a further order for seven years.
De Aguiar pleaded guilty to all counts after the diligent work of the Met investigation team who compiled a robust case against him, piecing together his role in importing GBL from Europe.
Historically GBL had been difficult to prove as an illegal drug due to its use as an industrial solvent. When used recreationally its addictive qualities and accessibility make it popular for enhancing sexual activities particularly with the LGBT+ community and for men who have sex with men.
Incorrect dosage of this drug can be fatal and it can be weaponised by perpetrators leaving victims susceptible to sexual assault and rape. There is a strong correlation between the use of GBL and crystal meth within chemsex scenarios.
Detective Constable Eoghan O’Neil, who led the investigation, said: “I’m proud of the dedicated detectives who dug deep into the vast amount of data seized as part of this investigation – their professional curiosity led us to building a robust case against De Aguiar and ultimately helped to take this dangerous man off our streets.
“We know it can be difficult to talk about issues around GBL and drug misuse in sex, but ultimately it’s our jobs at police officers to keep Londoners safe. We will always pursue those who put the lives of others at risk.”
In September 2023, Met officers worked closely with UK Border Force who intercepted a shipment from Poland of 50 litres of GBL addressed to a flat in Lambeth, London. Met search teams swept the property and found a portable hard-drive and mobile phone, as well as paperwork from Poland which showed De Aguiar had ordered the GBL.
The investigation team spent days trawling through the vast amounts of phone data from the devices seized and gathered important data relating to De Aguiar’s role in the distribution and use of GBL within online groups.
During the investigation, detectives also found that De Aguiar had installed software in an attempt to conceal the files he had been sharing which contained indecent images of children. This evidence led to De Aguiar receiving a longer jail sentence for breaching a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
On arrest, the defendant also violently assaulted two police officers. The court heard how De Aguiar was sentenced for one count of non-fatal strangulation against one officer, as well as for committing a religiously aggravated public order offence against the same officer.
The Met understands there are many sensitivities and concerns around recreational drug taking, particularly in the context of the chemsex scene. Officers are 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, 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.
Riardo MacQueen De Aguiar was sentenced for the following:
- Importation of GBL/concerned in supply of GBL: 30 months
- Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order: 30 months (with concurrent sentencing for possession of indecent images of children)
- Assaults on emergency workers: 2 years (consisting of 20 months for non-fatal strangulation of one officer, 2 months for a religiously aggravated public order offence against the same officer and 2 months for assaulting a second officer).
