Mark Dygdon and Rodrigo Castro are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to import and distribute large quantities of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), a chemical described as a 'liquid poison,' in New York City.
The two Manhattan men pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Dygdon, 48, and Castro, 34, conspired to import approximately seven tons of GBL into New York City between August 2023 and June 2026, equating to roughly one million individual doses.
GBL is commonly sold under street names including Blue Nitro and Revivarant, and can be converted into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a central nervous system depressant often associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault.
The case remains in its early stages, with prosecutors yet to publicly disclose the full body of evidence supporting the charges.
