Jack Dylan Gallagher: Man arrested at Brisbane Airport over ‘party drug' import

A man who was arrested at the Brisbane Airport, in front of his mum and partner, for bringing an illegal ‘party drug' into the country, said he “forgot” it was in his bag.

Jack Dylan Gallagher, 26, faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, December 2, 2022. Picture: Jessica Baker

A young man who was caught bringing an illegal ‘party drug' into the country has faced penalty in a Brisbane court.

Jack Dylan Gallagher, 26, of Woolloongabba appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, December 2 and pleaded guilty to possessing unlawfully imported border controlled drug gamma butyrolactone (GBL).

The court heard authorities searched Gallagher’s luggage when he arrived at the Brisbane Airport on Sunday, August 28 and found a vial containing about 20ml of substance.

Two separate tests determined the substance to be GBL.

Crown prosecutor Dylan Kerr said the young man admitted in interview that he knew the vial – which he had purchased a month prior in Germany – contained GBL.

“GBL is a substance which is known to metabolise when ingested into hydroxybutyrate, or GHB,” Mr Kerr said.

“It’s also been used, or is used rather, as a precursor to GHB. GHB is a party drug that produces feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and sociability. Side effects of GHB can include drowsiness, amnesia, and impaired movement and speech …

“For those reasons, GHB and its precursor are known to be used in sexual assaults. GBL, compared to GBH, is more potent and so therefore there is a higher risk of overdose even in very small quantities.”

The 26-year-old said he was aware GBL was a “party drug” but did not know whether it was illegal in Australia.

Defence solicitor Troy Smith said his client was arrested at the airport in front of his mother and partner, and his level of co-operation with authorities was then — and has remained since — “very high”.

Magistrate Andrew Moloney took into account Gallagher’s early plea of guilty, that the drug was intended for personal use, and that he was thought of “extremely highly” as a friend and work colleague.

He noted that while he said on one occasion he “forgot” the drug was in his bag, he had accepted it was in his possession when he entered Australia.

Gallagher apologised to the court, to border force officials, and to Australian Federal Police officers.

Mr Moloney said he presented a low risk of reoffending given his remorse, co-operation with authorities, and lack of a criminal history.

Gallagher was ultimately discharged and placed on a $750 18-month good behaviour bond.