Joromie Lewis died hours after drinking the pear juice, which contained lethal amounts of cocaine (Picture: PA)

Consumers have been warned about a rogue batch of a Caribbean-produced fruit drink which may contain lethal amounts of cocaine.

The warning over Cole Cold Pear D came after Joromie Lewis died in Southampton hours after having some of the drink.

The 33-year-old, from Kings Road, Gosport, Hampshire, died at Southampton General Hospital on December 5.

‘It appears from police inquiries that Mr Lewis ingested a small amount of liquid in the belief he was drinking a genuine pear drink,’ Hampshire police said.


Although a post-mortem proved inconclusive, laboratory tests on the drink have shown that it contained a ‘lethal’ amount of cocaine.

People have been encouraged to take any bottles of the juice to their local police station (Picture: PA)

Police said they had now established that the bottle was manufactured in the Caribbean but the company involved did not export the drink to Britain.



The Food Standards Agency has issued an alert to all local authorities to contact retailers to withdraw Pear D if it is found.

Detective Superintendent Richard Pearsons said: ‘Inquiries to date have not identified any further incidents or similar bottles.

‘The investigation suggests that this was likely to be a rogue bottle from a consignment of drugs stored in plastic juice bottles.’

He added: ‘If anyone finds a bottle of Pear D juice, do not open the bottle. If sealed, the bottle is perfectly safe. Take the bottle to the nearest police station, and we will examine the contents if appropriate.’