Other - Taiwan finds cocaine traces in liqueur

[enquirewithin]

Taiwanese police have confiscated some 200 cases of alcohol imported from the Netherlands after it was found to contain slight traces of cocaine.

The ...coca leaf liqueur exported by Dutch firm .... was seized from a customs warehouse in northern Taoyuan county, but 60 cases had already been sold, the Investigation Bureau said.

The probe came after a tip-off from a consumer who claimed to be feeling unwell after drinking the liqueur at a pub in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Local reports said the alcohol has been very popular in nightclubs in southern Taiwan.

The local importer, who reportedly said the alcohol was sold legally in the United States, South Korea and India, was released on bail pending further investigation.

Taiwanese authorities in May confiscated nearly 18,000 cases of Red Bull energy drinks imported from Austria which were found to contain slight traces of cocaine and ordered the drinks removed from shelves.

Manufacturing, transporting and selling cocaine is a criminal offence punishable by death or life imprisonment in Taiwan.

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AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE