GEORGE TOWN: Police today confirmed that the instant durian coffee mixture, which resulted in two Nepali men being hospitalised after consuming it, contains a drug.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said the Penang Food Safety and Quality Laboratory confirmed that the coffee mixture, contained a foreign substance, believed to be a kind of drug.
He said further test conducted on the sample showed the coffee mixture packet had been opened and re-sealed.
"Also, the re-sealed packet is heavier by 10gm compared to the original 40gm.
"The coffee mixture also contains a foreign green substance which is not available in the original packaging," he said.
Anuar said the laboratory also compared the coffee mixture consumed by the two men with the original packaging from the factory.
"There is a marked difference in weightage, contents and packaging.
"This led them to believe that the instant durian coffee mixture is laced with a kind of drug, which has yet to be identified, based on the symptoms shown by the two men," he added.
Anuar said police have since opened an investigation paper into the case after a report was lodged by a medical officer at the Penang Hospital.
He added that the case was being investigated under Section 272 of the Penal Code for adulteration of food or drink which is intended for sale.
(Adulteration is a legal term meaning that a food product fails to meet legal standards.)
Under the law, anyone found guilty for committing the offence shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to RM2,000 or with both.
On Tuesday, Sapkotamangal Prasad, 45, and Vishnu Shrestha, 41, both working as security guards at the Moulmein Rise in Pulau Tikus, were admitted into hospital after sipping into the instant durian coffee drink.
The medical officer who attended to them lodged the report after they were found to be acting abnormally.
Anuar said at the time of the incident about 9.40am, Vishnu was sitting in the guard house while Sapkotamangal had gone on patrol.
"An unknown woman approached Vishnu and handed him a big packet of the instant durian coffee for free before leaving the place. There were 16 small packets of the coffee mixture inside.
"After Sapkotamangal completed his rounds, they boiled water to mix the drink. After two minutes of drinking the drink, they started experiencing chest pain and breathing difficulty before they subsequently passed out." he added.
Anuar said a similar case was reported last Saturday when two women also showed similar symptoms as the Nepalese men.
"They claimed they had obtained the instant durian coffee mixture from members of the public who donated to a temple," he added.
To date, the two Nepali are still being treated at the hospital. However, they have been given the green light to be discharged.