LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Investigators for the California
 Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), assisted by officers of the
 Los Angeles Police Department, raided the "Circus" nightclub last night
 (Saturday) arresting five people on drug charges.
     The raid was the result of a seven-month undercover investigation
 involving ABC and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  ABC
 investigators made 26 purchases of various narcotics from 25 subjects.  The
 sales included such drugs as ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and ketamine.  Six of
 the drug transactions were committed or facilitated by employees of Circus.
     DEA and ABC investigated several patrons of Circus who sold large
 quantities of ecstasy to undercover investigators.  In all, more than
 10,000 pills were seized with a street value of over $200,000.
     During the course of the undercover investigation, ABC contacted Trinka D.
 Porrata, one of the nation's leading experts on ecstasy and rave events, who
 visited the Circus.  Porrata identified the club as a "rave" event due to the
 lack of drug or weapon searches at the front door, extensive security,
 numerous patrons under the influence of designer drugs, the type of music,
 laser lighting, glow sticks, sales of water bottles and so-called power drinks
 with a high concentration of caffeine such as Red Bull, an outside cooling off
 area, and other factors.
     Porrata also talked to a confidential informant about rave events in the
 area.  The informant referred to "Circus" as one of the best clubs to purchase
 and use ecstasy.
     During the undercover investigation, ABC investigators observed the open
 and conspicuous use of drugs usually connected to "Rave" events.  The drug of
 choice at these events is usually MDMA, or ecstasy, a stimulant that creates
 an increased sensitivity to sound and light.
     The Circus also sells high caffeine power drinks to their patrons. The
 combination of the caffeine and ecstasy creates a super high which gives a
 hallucinogenic effect.  The club catered to their drug using patrons by
 offering loud music, laser lights, and glow sticks which enhanced the
 psychedelic effect.  Bottled water was sold to patrons to counter dehydration
 caused by ecstasy and other designer drugs.
     For those patrons who overdosed on ecstasy, the nightclub provided a
 cool-down area with emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to prevent the need
 for emergency response units and possible inquiries from police.  The club is
 currently being sued by the family of a young man who died from an overdose of
 drugs after attending the nightclub.
     In September of 2001, 27-year-old Marcello "Nino" Maurizio allegedly
 obtained the drug ecstasy while at the club, collapsed on the dance floor and
 began having convulsions.  The family is claiming that club personnel examined
 Maurizio for some time, and then told his friends to take him home as he was
 having a bad trip.  Maurizio later died at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center.
     In addition to the criminal charges to be filed against those who sold or
 facilitated the sale of drugs, ABC will file an accusation against the club's
 liquor license for allowing the conspicuous and blatant use of drugs at the
 location.  The accusation could result in a suspension of the license.
     ABC investigators have been checking other nightclubs in Southern
 California and elsewhere in the State.
     The DEA has been focusing on ecstasy trafficking and recently launched a
 nationwide operation called "Operation X-Out."
 
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SOURCE  California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control