Police seize date-rape drug, guns, other narcotics after undercover investigation at Belltown nightclub

SEATTLE – Twelve people were arrested following an undercover narcotics investigation at the Foundation Nightclub in Belltown by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The investigation uncovered a dealer who bragged about his close relationship with the club’s owner and coached undercover officers on how to dose women using GHB, a so-called date-rape drug.

Law enforcement officials began investigating Foundation in March 2018 after receiving reports of drug trafficking inside the club, as well as ongoing concerns city-wide about overdoses and sexual assaults associated with drugs like GHB.

In a series of undercover operations, police purchased cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and GHB inside or near the club. The drugs were either purchased from employees at the club, including security, or facilitated by employees or managers of Foundation, who introduced undercover officers to dealers.

Police learned Foundation had several in-house drug dealers, who bypassed club security and sold drugs inside the venue.

Management was aware of the drug dealing, and one dealer even bragged about knowing the owner, and later explained to an undercover officer how much GHB to use to dose women, depending on their weight.

On Wednesday, SPD’s narcotics unit and HSI served warrants at several locations and seized 829 grams of cocaine, more than 1,000 grams of MDMA, 400 ecstasy pills, 800 Xanax pills, 190 grams of ketamine, 13 grams of DMT, 176 grams of GHB, 1200 Molly capsules, and additional prescription drugs, as well as two handguns and more than $60,000 in cash.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has issued an emergency suspension of the club’s liquor license.

Detectives continue to investigate the case and are actively searching for additional suspects.