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Sales, Manufacture of Gamma-Hydroxy-Butyrate (GHB) in Thousand Oaks
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On April 14, 2011, the East County Narcotics Street Team and the Ventura County Combined Agency Narcotic Task Force (VCAT), concluded a five-month investigation into David Caramanis who was responsible for the sales, manufacture and distribution of GHB in the city of Thousand Oaks. Caramanis was known to narcotic investigators and had a prior narcotic history dating back to the early 1990’s for sales of steroids and the manufacturing of GHB. Over the past several months, narcotic detectives observed Caramanis selling GHB in and around the Thousand Oaks area. A search warrant was served in the 1100 block of Westlake Blvd and Caramanis and his girlfriend, Heather Manzi, were both arrested without incident. During the course of the search warrant, detectives discovered chemicals that had been purchased from overseas distributors and were consistent with the manufacture of GHB. Based on evidence collected at the residence, there were enough chemicals present to produce over 16,000 dosage units of GHB. At roughly $10 per capful, the total street value would exceed $160,000.00. In addition to the GHB, detectives found numerous steroids including; HGH, Testosterone Cypionate, Nandrolone, and Methandriol. GHB was first synthesized in France more than 50 years ago as a possible anesthetic, but because of its undesirable side effects was rejected by the American medical community. GHB is a Schedule I Controlled Substance, which is used by body builders to induce sleep to encourage larger muscle growth and also to combat a condition known as "Roid Rage." GHB is also used in drug-facilitated sexual assaults (sometimes referred to as “date rape”) since it is a depressant and causes amnesia. GHB has been surreptitiously placed in female’s alcoholic drinks, causing them to lose consciousness, thereby making them susceptible to rape. GHB is commonly carried in Visine type bottles, nasal spray containers and various types of water bottles. Caramanis and Manzi were booked into the Ventura County Jail and will be arraigned on April 18, 2011. Caramanis’ bail was set at $500,000 and Manzi at $20,000. Location: 1100 block of Westlake Blvd, Thousand Oaks |
