Johannesburg - A Hawks investigation has uncovered cocaine in Coca Tea, a product available at two stores in Polokwane including a Dis-Chem outlet.
Police said on Sunday the tea was also sold in Gauteng and possibly countrywide.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said they were alerted by a woman who consulted her doctor after she had taken the tea.
“The doctor and the patient were perplexed to find out that she had been drugged with cocaine. The police raided two stores in Polokwane, a well-known grocery store and a leading pharmaceutical company, to remove all the sachets from the shelves, but the latter defied the police’s instruction,” said Mulaudzi.
On Sunday, The Star was able to obtain the 25g of Coca Tea for R38 at Dis-Chem at the Mall of the North.
An official, who is said to be the store manager at Dis-Chem, refused to comment. He also refused to divulge his name.
However, The Star could not find Coca Tea at grocery chain stores in the city.
Mulaudzi said the tea had tested positive for cocaine at the SAPS forensic laboratory last month.
At Dis-Chem pharmacies, Coca Tea came in five different flavours – lemon verbena, eucalyptus, mint, chamomile and cat’s claw – as well as divine and magic plant.
Boxes have different colours such as green, gold-and-green, yellow-and-green and blue. Green coca leaves are depicted on the outside.
Coca Tea claims to be 100 percent natural.
The tea claims to aid the respiratory system.
It “revitalizes, restores and energizes,” it claims. It also indicates that it overcomes fatigue.
At the bottom of the box, it is written, “don’t do DRUGS ends lifes [sic]. Cocazone supports the war against drugs”.
The box also mentions that the tea originates from South America, but that it was packaged in Rivonia, Sandton.
Police said on Sunday the Rivonia address did not exist.
Mulaudzi cautioned the public not to buy Coca Tea and said it was also being sold in stores across Gauteng and possibly countrywide.
“Our investigations have intensified.
“But we have not opened any case now, it is still an inquiry,” he said.
The Star