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Coffee powder laced with sex performance enhancers are rife in the market, this was revealed by the Health Ministry's Pharmaceutical Department yesterday.

These companies often advertise their coffee and other health products in capsules promoting healthy sexual function enhanced with herbal and organic extracts. How did they manage to evade the detection of controlled ingredients such as tadalafil? They do it by submitting different product samples, free of the sex stimulants, to the department, ensuring they pass with flying colours.

Health Ministry Pharmaceutical Department Enforcement deputy director Wan Hamid Wan Ibrahim said the ruse ensured customer satisfaction, however, it also "leave themselves open to dangers such as brain damage, ruptured blood vessels or death".

He said the public were often unaware the products bought were mixed with controlled stimulants which could only be obtained through prescription.

"They fooled us by giving us a product sample free from the stimulants to obtain the Health Ministry approval, then added the substance once they got the approval," said Wan Hanif.

"They also added it into another product such as coffee. This was revealed after we conducted checks on the products, following complaints and observations made later."

He said the department had taken action against a number of companies, especially direct-selling firms, which were found to be selling products laced with tadalafil using the earlier approval given by the ministry.

"They conned the customers without revealing the product they were selling had a hidden ingredient, that is tadalafil."

They also promoted coffee added with herbs and organic extract but it was laced with controlled substances.

Then sold at a premium because of the 'organic' and 'herbs' ingredient.

"The substance can only be prescribed by doctors and even the pharmacy can only release such drugs following a doctor's approval. It is not for everybody's consumption as it can cause death."

It is learnt the companies using controlled substances in their products had obtained the drug through illegal means as one could not buy it in bulk due to patent controls.

A source said it could have been smuggled in from other countries and sold to local companies.

Yesterday, the Selangor Pharmaceutical Department conducted a raid at a branch of a direct selling company in Puchong, which sold products such as coffee and capsules believed to have contained tadalafil.

They seized RM100,000 worth of premium coffee added with organic extract and capsules, claimed to be added with an oyster substance, to promote and support healthy sexual functions.

The raid was led by the State Pharmaceutical Enforcement deputy director Mohd Zahariman Harun.

The team moved in at 11.30am and posed as customers to purchase the coffee and also the capsules before they raided the place at noon.

Mohd Zahariman said the coffee products were sold at RM160 per box. It contained six sachets mixed with tadalafil.

Also seized were capsules added with the oyster powder/extract, sold at RM64 for a pack of two capsules.

"We have tested the products before we made a move on them. It has an analogue version of tadalafil, contrary to the sample they have provided us when they asked for the ministry's approval before," said Mohd Zahariman.

He said the department had conducted investigations for two months before raiding the premises.

Mohd Zahariman said the approval by the ministry would be revoked and the company investigated for mixing schedule poison and traditional product.

The offence carries a fine of RM25,000, or three years imprisonment or both - Malay Mail