BANGKOK– Thai police have launched a massive crackdown on a major fake cough syrup production network in Pathum Thani province. Consumer Protection Police Division officers led the successful operation after receiving critical online tips about illegal drug distribution.
The joint task force raided four separate locations across the province to stop the dangerous underground trade. Authorities discovered a vast network set up designed to manufacture and distribute counterfeit medicine to young buyers nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Huge Seizure:Police confiscated over 139,000 bottles of fake Datissin cough syrup and production assets worth 30 million baht.
- Youth At Risk:The illegal network specifically targeted teenagers who use the counterfeit syrup to mix dangerous “4×100” intoxication drinks.
- Severe Penalties:The suspects face multiple criminal charges, including manufacturing fake medicine, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
According to official reports from Thairath , the Consumer Protection Police Division worked alongside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Local public health officials from Pathum Thani also joined the specialized team to execute court-issued search warrants.
The coordinated raids successfully targeted warehouses and hidden production plants across Khlong Luang, Thanyaburi, and Lam Luk Ka districts. Officers caught the operators completely off guard during the morning operation, preventing them from destroying evidence.
Inside the Massive Fake Cough Syrup Production Sites
At the first location in Khlong Luang, officers discovered a massive distribution depot holding 127,900 ready-to-ship syrup bottles. They also found thousands of empty plastic containers and industrial stainless steel boiling pots used to cook the liquid.
The second location in Lam Luk Ka served as the primary factory floor for the illegal network. Police discovered over 11,000 finished bottles, thousands of liters of chemical solutions, and 28 pieces of industrial machinery.
The third and fourth search locations in Thanyaburi revealed the true scale of the counterfeit operation. Officers seized an additional 315,000 fake brand labels, hundreds of gallons of treated water, and branded bottle caps.
In total, the four raids netted 139,400 bottles of fake Datissin syrup and 429,405 counterfeit product labels. The total financial value of the seized drugs, raw chemical ingredients, and manufacturing machinery exceeds 30 million baht.
Dangerous Underground Mixtures Target Local Teenagers
Investigating officers revealed that the criminals specifically created these fake syrups to feed a growing illicit youth market. Teenagers frequently purchase these dangerous syrups to mix them with kratom leaf juice, creating a cocktail known as “4×100.”
This intoxicating drink causes severe drowsiness and acts as a gateway to more dangerous narcotic substances. Authorities warned that consuming unregulated, bootleg medication poses an immediate threat to life due to toxic chemical contamination.
Police tracking data showed that this specific network consisted of repeat offenders who had been raided before. The group constantly moved its machinery between different rental warehouses to evade police detection and continue making profits.
The suspects now face severe charges under the Thai Drug Act for manufacturing medicine without a proper license. More importantly, the charge of producing and selling fake medication carries a prison sentence of up to life.
FDA officials issued an urgent public warning regarding the extreme health hazards linked to these unhygienic facilities. Counterfeit syrups cooked in dirty warehouses often contain deadly bacteria, heavy metals, and incorrect chemical balances.
Legitimate cough medicine helps heal people, but fake products can cause permanent organ failure or instant death. Authorities are urging parents to monitor their children closely and report any suspicious local drug sales immediately.
