Last month, the Hong Kong Police Force received reports that several supermarkets had discovered plastic bottles of Coca-Cola and 7UP soft drinks mixed with unknown liquids. A 9-year-old boy fell ill after drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola purchased from a supermarket in West Kowloon in mid-July, and laboratory tests suggested the drink might contain urine.
After intelligence analysis and reviewing surveillance footage, including clips from the "Sharp Eyes" program, the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit identified a suspect—a 63-year-old unemployed man. He was arrested last Saturday (August 9) in his Sham Shui Po residence, where police seized a bottle suspected to contain an unknown liquid.
The suspect admitted that, due to dissatisfaction with the supermarket staff, he had added urine to bottled soft drinks and placed them back on the shelves in supermarkets across Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, and Wan Chai. He has been charged with one count of administering poison with intent to injure and will appear in court today. Police have seized a total of seven contaminated drinks, with preliminary tests not ruling out the presence of urine.
The affected boy was hospitalized on July 18 after drinking the tainted Coca-Cola, but has since been discharged. Wellcome and PARKnSHOP supermarkets stated that, as a precautionary measure, they have removed the related products from shelves. Swire Coca-Cola described the incident as an isolated case involving deliberately tampered "Coca-Cola Plus" (500ml plastic bottles) and confirmed full cooperation with authorities in the investigation.
Police emphasized that the case has a serious impact on public health and consumer confidence in food safety, adding that the suspect acted alone and has no prior criminal record.
Stay vigilant when shopping
At a press conference yesterday (August 11), police advised the public on how to identify tampered drinks to avoid accidental consumption. Senior Inspector Yau Yu-sing from the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit reminded consumers to carefully inspect packaging for damage or signs of tampering. In this case, since the drinks were bottled with caps, buyers should check whether the seal has been broken—a detail visible to the naked eye. For carbonated beverages, bottles that have been opened may soften over time. If foreign substances are added, the liquid volume may also differ from normal products. Consumers should also be cautious if they notice unusual odors or colors upon opening.
Yau advised that if packaging appears interfered with or the product smells abnormal, consumers should immediately notify the store, manufacturer, or contact the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 2868 0000. Anyone with information related to the case can reach the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit at 3661 8183.
Mr. Ng, a resident, described the suspect's actions as "shocking" and expressed concern over the incident. He said he always checks product packaging, such as bottle caps and expiry dates, when shopping. Another resident, Mr. Liu, called the act of contaminating drinks for revenge "outrageous." While admitting he previously paid little attention to packaging, he vowed to be more cautious in the future.
Past incidents
Historical records show Hong Kong has seen multiple cases of drink tampering or threats thereof. Among the most notorious were the "Drugged Lemon Tea" robbery cases in the 1990s. Between July 1994 and February 1995, the criminal injected sedatives into tetra-pack lemon tea in convenience stores across Tuen Mun and other districts. After victims consumed the spiked drinks and became disoriented, he followed them to rob and extort ATM passwords.
Over 20 cases were reported before the arrest of the suspect, Kwok, in March 1995. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The case was cracked by a team led by then-police officer John Lee, now Hong Kong's Chief Executive.
In 2001, a 44-year-old man, dissatisfied with government policies, sent threatening letters to three newspapers, claiming he had poisoned supermarket drinks. Police swiftly arrested him after he admitted to lacing instant mashed potatoes and cocoa powder with pesticides bought in Zhuhai.
In 2005, Nestlé's Dairy Farm in Yuen Long received extortion calls demanding HK$200,000, with the caller claiming to have injected toxic pesticides into drinks placed in supermarkets across Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. Investigations traced the calls to a Dairy Farm International (DFI) staff dormitory in Pok Fu Lam, leading to the arrest of a man unrelated to the company. He allegedly made the threats due to grievances over the company reclaiming his living quarters, though no actual poisoning occurred.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Xiao; English Editor: Darius)
Related News:
Urine-contaminated soda: Multiple abnormal Coca-Cola Plus found during routine inspection
'Space oil drug' crisis affects youth: Nearly 70% of 191 cases in Q1 involve individuals under 21
Comment