Two Indians arrested in Laos over toxic alcohol that killed 6 tourists

Authorities in Laos have arrested 12 individuals, including two Indians, after methanol-contaminated alcohol at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng killed six foreign tourists. The victims had consumed poisoned Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey, prompting an investigation that led to the closure of the factory producing the drinks. Previous travellers to the hostel had tried to alert others by writing Google reviews, but those were deleted by the hostel.

The two arrested Indian men are aged 24 and 30. No other details were available on the two.

Among the victims were best friends from Melbourne, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, who fell ill on November 13 and later died in separate Thai hospitals, according to GB News.

Other victims included Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, British lawyer Simone White, 28, and 57-year-old American James Louis Hutson.

The six deaths have prompted Laos authorities to ban the sale and consumption of Tiger-branded spirits nationwide.

The contaminated drink was traced to a factory located on the outskirts of Vientiane, which has since been shut down.

Officials from the Ministry of Health’s Department of Food and Drugs confirmed the factory’s production will remain banned until it meets safety and quality standards, according to Great Britain News.

TRAVELLERS IGNORED PREVIOUS WARNINGS

Travellers had earlier attempted to alert others about methanol-laced drinks at Nana Backpackers Hostel through Google reviews.

“Do not go here!! They have methanol in their drinks and me and 3 others have been hospitalised because of this,” one reviewer wrote.

The hostel dismissed these warnings as “slander” before the reviews were removed from Google.

Authorities have not yet filed charges against any of the 12 individuals arrested but said that the investigation is ongoing, according to GB News.