Drug rings now using common drinks to hook teens

KUALA LUMPUR: Drug syndicates are targeting teenagers by spiking common drinks in order to get them addicted, says Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigations Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh.

“We noticed this trend when we raided nightclubs and wild parties. Many of the teenagers were consuming common beverages like energy drinks, iced lemon tea and soft drinks that have been spiked with drugs.

“This is a marketing ploy by the syndicates in order to get new customers. Next they could even be selling them at schools and playgrounds because the drug is hidden inside common products,” he said during a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

Comm Mohmad said parents should be more vigilant and check the bottles or cans for signs of tampering before letting their children consume them.

“Police will speak to the drink manufacturing companies and try to work out ways to counter this problem,” he said.

Mohmad released a list of around 30 household brands whose drinks had been found spiked with drugs at raids.

“We will hold another press conference soon with further details,” he said.

In a separate case, Comm Mohmad said police arrested four members of a drug syndicate and seized around 31kg of syabu worth RM1.5mil.

“We arrested three of them at a house in Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, around 9pm on Monday and found the drugs hidden in Chinese tea packages.

“The fourth man was held at a rest stop in Tanjung Malim, Perak, about an hour later,” he said.

Comm Mohmad said the arrests were a follow-up to the case of five men found carrying 102.99kg of syabu worth RM5mil by Customs officers at Sandakan airport in February.