Chemical linked to date rape drug seized at Port of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Philadelphia seized several bottles of a chemical used to produce a dangerous date rape drug.

The shipment, containing bottles of gammabutyrolactone - known as GBL - arrived from Spain on April 25, officials said.

While GBL is commonly used as an industrial solvent, authorities say it is also abused as a party drug and is known on the street as "Blue Nitro" or liquid ecstasy.

GBL is a precursor to gammahydroxybutyrate, or GHB, a substance frequently used by sexual predators to incapacitate victims.

Officials said the shipment was falsely labeled as "facial toner" and was destined for Massachusetts.