Police raid Lakewood GHB lab, arrest two

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police raided a Lakewood drug lab Wednesday and arrested

two men who are suspected of manufacturing and selling

gammahydroxybutrate, also known as GHB or liquid ecstasy, leaving

authorities hopeful that they have eliminated at least one source of

drugs in the local nightclub scene.

It was the largest-ever seizure of GHB for the Newport Beach Police

Department.

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Mike McDermott said the arrests were the result

of a two-week investigation by narcotics detectives, who had received a

tip.

Late Tuesday night, Newport police arrested Carl Frederick Nalbone, 50,

of Long Beach, who allegedly had two gallons of GHB in water bottles in

his car. Nalbone was stopped after he was spotted leaving a Lakewood home

that was under surveillance by Newport Beach police.

Officers raided the Lakewood lab early Wednesday and arrested Daniel

James Lupo, 41, of Lakewood, for allegedly manufacturing the drug. In the

lab, they found four gallons of the substance and materials to make

another 25 to 30 gallons, McDermott said.

GHB has also been called a “date rape” drug.

“GHB from the Lakewood lab was impacting Newport Beach. Stuff was

purchased up there, brought back here and sold,” McDermott said.

Nalbone, who is being charged with possession with the intent to sell,

was most likely the distributor and Lupo the manufacturer, police said.

McDermott said GHB is sold at some local bars, but he could not comment

any further. He did say that the most recent GHB overdoses occurred at

some bars on the west side of Newport Beach, including The Buzz in Lido

Marina Village and Aysia 101, on West Coast Highway.

Even though the overdoses took place inside the clubs, some patrons

consume drugs before they enter the bar, McDermott said.

GHB sells by the capful for about $5 and is often mixed with water. Users

can pour it in a water bottle, where it looks inconspicuous. It produces

alcohol-like effects, which include memory loss.

McDermott gave an example of one man who drank two capfuls of GHB and

swallowed an ecstasy tablet. He thrashed around for a while before he

went into a comatose state.

The popularity of ecstasy and GHB has risen over the years and is more

common than cocaine. However, methamphetamine and marijuana still rank at

the top among drugs, according to police.

“We get a few GHB overdoses from the nightclubs every month. We’re seeing

more and more of this,” McDermott said.

Nalbone was released on $25,000 bail and his arraignment has not be

scheduled. Lupo is being held in Los Angeles County Jail in lieu of

$600,000 bail. He will be arraigned today at Cerritos Municipal Court.