German authorities have seized more bottles of the deadly Moet champagne spiked with ecstasy after they now appeared again in several places across the country.
Batches LAJ7QAB6780004 and LAK5SAA6490005 of the Moet and Chandon Ice Imperial made headlines last year after one partygoer died guzzling the luxury drink in Weiden in der Oberpfalz in Bavaria, southern Germany.
The victim, identified only as Harald Georg Z., 52, collapsed after taking a big swallow from a GBP 450 magnum Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial bottle during a night out.
He had reportedly celebrated the end of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions with some friends at the local La Vita eatery, prior to his death.
The 52-year-old businessman even posted a video on social media showing the group toasting with champagne, before all of them suddenly began cramping with foam on their lips.
A total of 12 people who took a sip of the costly booze were hospitalised in Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
After finding out that the bottle contained 1,000 times the dose of a single ecstasy pill, authorities recalled the two batches throughout Europe.
The first batch – LAJ7QAB6780004 – was taken off the market shelves on 26th February 2022, after which it was joined by a second one – LAK5SAA6490005 – in June 2022.
But now a spokesperson from the Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman for the public prosecutor confirmed that more bottles of the kind have been seized by officials.
The spokesperson claimed that the case will be determined throughout Europe, along with customs, and recalled the incident saying: “It was a tragic coincidence.”
He explained that the new bottles popped up after some people found them suspicious because they did not bubble when uncorked.
Non-profit organisation Foodwatch stated at the time: “Touching and/or drinking the contents of the bottle is life-threatening, even trying it by dipping the tips of your fingertips can cause massive health problems.
“Champagne infused with MDMA [methylenedioxymethamphetamine or ecstasy] does not sparkle, smells like anise and has a reddish-brown colour.
The public prosecutor said that it cannot be ruled out that other bottles laced with MDMA are circulating around.
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety urged: “Don’t try anything. Taking a small sip can be fatal.”
Ecstasy is a psychoactive drug, which induces desired effects such as altered sensations, increased energy and pleasure.
Extended use can lead to memory problems, sleeping difficulties and paranoia.
It is unknown how the substance got into the bottles, and investigations in Germany are looking into the matter as a case of negligent homicide.
