Toddler in Malaysia tests positive for drugs after accidentally consuming laced sweets

MELAKA – A three-year-old girl is believed to have tested positive for drugs after consuming sweets suspected to contain narcotic substances, said Deputy Commissioner Dzulkhairi Mukhtar in a statement on April 23.

The Melaka police chief said initial investigations found that the sweets were purchased by a 39-year-old social media influencer with nearly 600,000 online followers.

“The suspect claimed he had bought the sweets from a neighbouring country before storing them in a refrigerator at his mother’s house. His mother is also the caregiver of the child,” Mr Dzulkhairi said.

“The child, who is fond of sweets, consumed them before she began losing consciousness and was then rushed to hospital.”

Mr Dzulkhairi said the sweets in question were not found during an inspection by the police.

Media reports on April 22 said the suspect had been remanded to assist in investigations after the child was confirmed to have tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis.

Mr Dzulkhairi said the matter came to light on April 14 after a medical officer at Hospital Melaka received the child in a semi-conscious state.

“The victim’s mother informed medical officers that her daughter had earlier been under the care of her mother-in-law at a home in Sungai Putat,” said the police chief.

“The child has since recovered and was allowed to return home.”

Following the incident, a team from the D11 Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division of the Melaka police arrested the suspect at about 9.30pm on April 15.

The suspect has no prior criminal record, and a urine screening test conducted on him returned negative for drugs. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK