Mao Hamasaki Says Suspected Drink-Spiking Left Her Unable to Move During Hong Kong DJ Set

Japanese DJ Mao Hamasaki says she became seriously unwell during a Halloween night out in Hong Kong after drinking a cocktail she suspected had been tampered with. Police have arrested a 61-year-old man in connection with the reported incident, though investigators have not publicly established a motive or any relationship between him and Hamasaki. According to reports cited by RTHK, the 33-year-old was taken to hospital in the early hours of Nov. 1 after becoming unwell at a bar on Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hamasaki had reportedly been invited to perform at a Halloween event before heading to another venue for a second DJ set. In a post on X, Hamasaki said she had taken a couple of shots of an orange-flavoured cocktail before that performance. She noticed a cloudy substance at the bottom of her glass, but thought it might be orange pulp. About 40 minutes to an hour later, she began DJing and soon noticed that her eyes felt extremely dry. She later toasted with customers using the same drink. Hamasaki said that shortly after finishing it, her body began to stiffen. She could no longer move her arms or legs, and her memory of what followed was missing. “The next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance,” she wrote. Hamasaki said she was told that hospital tests had returned positive results in four categories, but she did not identify the substances. She was conscious at the hospital and said she was recovering steadily. She also described feeling frightened and distressed, while initially not understanding why she felt that way. The DJ said she blamed herself for not taking the warning signs more seriously, but urged others to be cautious: keep control of drinks and replace them if they have been left unattended. She said she hoped to cooperate with Hong Kong police after leaving hospital and to help raise awareness about preventing drug-related harm. RTHK reported that the arrested man was detained for questioning after his arrest in Central on Nov. 2, on suspicion of administering a harmful substance with intent to injure. Police were reportedly still looking into the circumstances of the case.