Ex-drug dealer and former prison officer set up cafe

Plan hatched in jail; business hires former offenders and people who have lost loved ones to drugs

Former prison officer Hilary Lo (left) is now The Caffeine Experience's operations manager, while former drug dealer Matthew Poh handles the front end of the business as the cafe's administrator.
Former prison officer Hilary Lo (left) is now The Caffeine Experience's operations manager, while former drug dealer Matthew Poh handles the front end of the business as the cafe's administrator. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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One was a drug dealer. The other, a no-nonsense prison officer.

Earlier this year, they began an unusual partnership - setting up a cafe in Tanjong Pagar together.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 24, 2018, with the headline Ex-drug dealer and former prison officer set up cafe. Subscribe