Police and market controllers in Hanoi have sealed up around 5,000 liters of medicinal alcohol - soaked with animals or herbs - for investigation after spot tests showed that alcohol in at least two decanters was tainted with drugs. With the support of the Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Science and Technique Institute, environmental police and market management officers in Hanoi made the seizure at Thuy Gau Shop, which sells various precious stones, at 119 A Me Tri Street, Tu Liem District. Police found numerous decanters, jars and pots of alcohol soaked with animals or medicinal herbs placed on the second and third floors of the shop. At the time of inspection, the total volume of the soaked alcohol at the shops was about 5,000 liters, said Luong The Vinh, head of the Market Management Team No. 7. The shop was also the place where alcohol was poured from large decanters or jars into small bottles or pots before being sold to the market, Vinh said. When examining the alcohol, experts from the Institute found out that some medicinal herbs in large decanters looked like part of a poppy plant like bark, leaves and seeds. Some tests were carried out on the spot and the results showed that the samples were positive for drug substances, said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Vu Quoc Tuan, an official from the Institute. “At least two 30-liter pots of soaked alcohol have been found containing poppy bark, trunk and seeds,” Tuan said. The shop’s owner, Ha Phuong Thuy, 46, a native of Yen Bai province, failed to show inspectors a license of alcohol trade. She could not present any documents related to the materials soaked in the alcohol, either. Police have sealed up all the alcohol products at the shop pending further testing and investigation.