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RM2m drug-laced coffee haul <!-- TITLE : end--> <!--
Two illegal factories raided, police seize dangerous chemicals added into coffee mixtures. -NST --> </td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="550"> <table> <tbody><tr> <td> <table> <tbody><tr><td>
</td> </tr> <tr><td class="content_subtitle" align="left"> Sat, Jan 16, 2010
New Straits Times </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" width="400"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" valign="top">
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</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" class="bodytext_10pt"> <!-- CONTENT : start --> By Lee Shi-Ian
SEMENYIH, MALAYSIA - Health authorities raided two illegal factories here and seized more than RM2 million (S$0.83 million) worth of dangerous chemicals, including sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. Health Ministry deputy enforcement director (pharmacies) Wan Hamid Wan Ibrahim said investigations showed that sildenafil had been added to coffee mixtures. It is learnt that health authorities had been hunting for the "ghost" company responsible for manufacturing these coffee mixtures because sildenafil could only be obtained with a doctor's prescription.
Those who consume sildenafil without doctor's clearance could suffer side effects such as headache, flushing, stomachache and blurred vision. In extreme cases, it could even result in sudden death. Wan Hamid led a team of enforcement officers to a remote area at the Villa Raya Industrial Park on Wednesday at 5.30pm.
The same team later raided another factory in Taman Sri Haneco, four kilometres from the first factory. The raids came after several months of investigation."These dangerous coffee mixtures are distributed locally by direct-selling companies.
But consumers were told that the coffee mixtures were manufactured from herb extracts and honey but no mention was made about the controlled substance." The raiding party found 2kg of white powder, believed to be sildenafil, inside a rubbish bin. The amount of sildenafil could be used to lace up to 70,000 packets of coffee mixtures. The value of sildenafil seized was about RM2 million. "The factory did not have any signboards and when we entered the premises, we found two Nepalese men in their 30s and a local man in his 60s. The latter claimed he was a technician," Wan Hamid said.
Various machinery used to produce powdered coffee mixtures and other ingredients such as glucose, sugar, flavouring powder and cocoa powder were also found. Investigations revealed the raw ingredients were mixed together to produce high-end coffee mixture, sold for between RM10 and RM20 per packet. Officers also found health slimming products containing sibutramine, an appetite suppressant. Unauthorised consumption of sibutramine can cause nausea, constipation and dizzinesss. "In the second raid, eight women were caught while they were packing the coffee mixtures. Officers also found thousands of coffee packets being packed into boxes."
On the box, it was written "Made in France", "Made in Japan" and "Made in the United States", which Wan Hamid claimed was a blatant attempt by the syndicate to dupe consumers.
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RM2m drug-laced coffee haul <!-- TITLE : end--> <!--
Two illegal factories raided, police seize dangerous chemicals added into coffee mixtures. -NST --> </td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="550"> <table> <tbody><tr> <td> <table> <tbody><tr><td>
New Straits Times </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" width="400"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" valign="top">
</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" class="bodytext_10pt"> <!-- CONTENT : start --> By Lee Shi-Ian
SEMENYIH, MALAYSIA - Health authorities raided two illegal factories here and seized more than RM2 million (S$0.83 million) worth of dangerous chemicals, including sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. Health Ministry deputy enforcement director (pharmacies) Wan Hamid Wan Ibrahim said investigations showed that sildenafil had been added to coffee mixtures. It is learnt that health authorities had been hunting for the "ghost" company responsible for manufacturing these coffee mixtures because sildenafil could only be obtained with a doctor's prescription.
Those who consume sildenafil without doctor's clearance could suffer side effects such as headache, flushing, stomachache and blurred vision. In extreme cases, it could even result in sudden death. Wan Hamid led a team of enforcement officers to a remote area at the Villa Raya Industrial Park on Wednesday at 5.30pm.
The same team later raided another factory in Taman Sri Haneco, four kilometres from the first factory. The raids came after several months of investigation."These dangerous coffee mixtures are distributed locally by direct-selling companies.
But consumers were told that the coffee mixtures were manufactured from herb extracts and honey but no mention was made about the controlled substance." The raiding party found 2kg of white powder, believed to be sildenafil, inside a rubbish bin. The amount of sildenafil could be used to lace up to 70,000 packets of coffee mixtures. The value of sildenafil seized was about RM2 million. "The factory did not have any signboards and when we entered the premises, we found two Nepalese men in their 30s and a local man in his 60s. The latter claimed he was a technician," Wan Hamid said.
Various machinery used to produce powdered coffee mixtures and other ingredients such as glucose, sugar, flavouring powder and cocoa powder were also found. Investigations revealed the raw ingredients were mixed together to produce high-end coffee mixture, sold for between RM10 and RM20 per packet. Officers also found health slimming products containing sibutramine, an appetite suppressant. Unauthorised consumption of sibutramine can cause nausea, constipation and dizzinesss. "In the second raid, eight women were caught while they were packing the coffee mixtures. Officers also found thousands of coffee packets being packed into boxes."
On the box, it was written "Made in France", "Made in Japan" and "Made in the United States", which Wan Hamid claimed was a blatant attempt by the syndicate to dupe consumers.
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