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An industrial solvent used to produce plastics has been increasingly linked to sexual assaults and overdoses, prompting a warning from authorities.
The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force this morning warned both would-be illicit importers and the broader community about the dangers of dealing with 1,4 Butanediol, more commonly known as "bute".
Although the drug has industrial purposes, the body also naturally converts it into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) when ingested - often dubbed a "date rape" drug.
In March, bute was defined as a border-controlled drug, meaning those convicted of illegally importing it could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Since the change in legislation, more than 4200 litres of bute have been seized in Sydney alone, Australian Federal Police said.
Australian law enforcement has reported escalating harm resulting from the drug.
AFP Eastern Commander Kate Ferry said the recent seizures were a concern for policing agencies across Australia.
"Bute is an industrial chemical used to produce plastics and can be a significant danger if consumed," Ferry said.
"The concerns of law enforcement agencies are rising because of reports bute is being increasingly linked to sexual assaults, as well as overdoses."
She said the message to the community was "stop taking this drug".
"Stop creating this international demand. Stop supporting criminal groups who seek to profit from the pain of others," she said.
Australian Border Force Acting Commander Asha Patwardhan also issued a warning to would-be illegal importers.
"Our Border Force officers are observing individuals and criminal syndicates attempting to import bute in concerning volumes, and we are detecting and disrupting this activity every day across the country," she said.
"This substance is often concealed in varying ways, but ABF officers are seeing bute hidden within body oils, face masks, or food products.
ABF officers detected about 180 litres of bute imported to Australia from China, concealed in bottles labelled as body oil on March 7.
The AFP later executed search warrants at business addresses in the Sydney suburbs of Fairfield and Lidcombe, which resulted in the further seizure of more than 1000 litres of bute.
This resulted in a total seizure of 1407 litres.
Another consignment from China seized on March 23 was estimated to contain 960 litres of bute concealed in bottles labelled as essence oil.
An importation of 660 litres of the drug was seized in early May after the recipient alerted authorities on becoming aware of the change in legislation.
The drug consignment had been exported in late 2023.
Bute can be legally imported into Australia for legitimate industrial use by importers that are registered with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme.
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