Truth is Stranger than Fiction 2008.34

Feds: NYC man claimed liquid drug was 'holy water'

From Associated Press

November 11, 2008 3:17 PM EST

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - A New York City man is accused of trying to smuggle a date rape drug into the United States by putting the liquid in bottles he claimed contained "holy water."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say laboratory tests recently confirmed that dozens of bottles seized at a western New York border crossing contained Ketamine, a powerful hallucinogenic used as a date rape drug.

Authorities say 50-year-old Warren Maynard of Brooklyn was arrested Oct. 16 near Niagara Falls after he tried to enter the U.S. from Canada, where he said he'd bought some religious items.

Officials say a Customs dog sniffed out the drug while Maynard was being questioned by officers.

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The status of his case and whether Maynard has a lawyer couldn't be immediately determined Tuesday.