Date rape drug sold at Main Street karaoke bar

From the Times Ledger:

More than 30 people were arrested at what authorities said was a karaoke bar in Flushing Saturday as a police sting uncovered what was allegedly a drug and counterfeit cigarette ring.

Flushing resident Min Yun Zhou, 44, the bar manager, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a controlled substance, the Queens district attorney said. Elmhurst resident Guo Lin, 44, the bar owner, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a forged instrument, the DA said. Flushing resident Kui Yang, 41, a bar employee, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance, the DA said.

If convicted, all three could face up to 25 years in prison, the DA said. Each was held in lieu of $10,000 bail. Their next court date is Dec. 21, the DA said.

Undercover officers with the Vice Squad allegedly bought a vial of ketamine and ecstasy pills from Lin at the bar at 41-46 Main St. Oct. 8, according to a criminal complaint filed by the DA’s office. Yang allegedly sold undercover officers more of the drugs Oct. 17 and Nov. 21, the DA’s office said. Ketamine is commonly used in date rapes to incapacitate the victim.

When officers executed a search warrant at the establishment Saturday, they allegedly recovered 19 packs of cigarettes with counterfeit Virginia tax stamps and 13 jars of ketamine inside a closet, the DA’s office said.

Three officers were also injured during the Saturday night raid, a police source speaking on condition of anonymity said.

Among the roughly 35 people arrested during the sting were three men who allegedly tried to attack an officer after arriving in a livery cab, the DA’s office said.