Rocky Mountain News

HomeNewsLocal News

Drug suspect allegedly got ingredients through eBay

Published August 23, 2007 at midnight

Carl Andrew Dubois, who was arrested last week for manufacturing Ecstasy at his south Boulder home, apparently didn't cover his tracks very well, according to a search warrant.

Dubois, 29, allegedly obtained all of the ingredients and supplies to make the club drug on eBay. And he paid for all the purchases through Pay-Pal, using a MasterCard credit card.

Morever, he used the address freebasing@hotmail.com for his eBay and PayPal accounts. As noted in the search warrant, "freebasing" is a method of producing salts for the manufacture of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy.

Last Tuesday, Dubois and his girlfriend, Debra Cerio, 41, were arrested for manufacturing illegal drugs. A search of the home at 720 S. 46th St. found enough chemicals to make 50,000 to 80,000 tabs of Ecstasy, with a street value of up to $3.2 million.

According to the search warrant, Dubois allegedly purchased various chemicals and laboratory equipment through eBay between June 2006 and July 2007.

All but three of the orders were delivered to his home address. Three flasks, a gas regulator and $879 of essential oils ordered in January were shipped to his work address. At the time, he was believed to be working at Cable Express Corp.

Essential oils can include sassafras oil, nutmeg and camphor - all which contain safrole, a precursor to the manufacture of MDMA.

The biggest eBay purchase was made June 26, 2006, for $2,595 of sassafras oil from a Canadian seller. Sassafras oil contains 90 percent or more of safrole.

"Although many of the items Dubois purchased can be used for other purposes, when used together in the proper quantities and procedures, these items can be used in the illicit manufacture of Ecstasy," it was noted in the affidavit for the search warrant.

Dubois and Cerio have been charged with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of illegal drugs and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute illegal drugs. Both are out of jail on bail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Sept. 6.

Back to Top

Search »