
PATTAYA — Authorities raided a store in Pattaya after Indian tourists reported being forced to buy overpriced herbal products under threats of violence.
The Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office’s Consumer Protection and Pharmaceutical Public Health Division had received complaints from several Indian tourists about an unauthorized herbal product store. They reported being deceived into buying overpriced products falsely claimed to be herbal medicines and were threatened with physical harm if they refused to purchase.
On October 23, Pattaya Tourist Police revealed that they, along with the Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office’s Consumer Protection and Pharmaceutical Public Health Division, inspected a herbal store named Green World Herbal Pharmacy Co., Ltd. located in Moo 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

The store sold various unlabeled medicines, including powder medications sold by weight starting from 1 gram, claiming various benefits such as hair growth, digestive relief, diabetes treatment, and sexual performance enhancement.
The sellers displayed an International Rate List for various herbs, with Johar Zafran at 600 baht per gram, John Anjak at 1,200 baht per gram, Johar Almas at 18,000 baht per gram, and Johar Diamond at 22,000 baht per gram.
Officers arrested 5 suspects, including 4 Pakistani nationals: Mr. Ullah (22), Mr. Najeebullah (39), Mr. Jalil (24), and Mr. Bacha (23), and one Myanmar national, Ms. Riya (22).

The first suspect faces charges of:
- Producing, selling, or importing modern medicine without permission under the Drug Act, Section 12
- Selling herbal products without permission under the Herbal Products Act, Section 17
- Working as a foreigner without a work permit or beyond permitted rights
- Employing foreigners without work permits
Suspects 2-5 were charged with “working as foreigners without work permits or beyond permitted rights.” All suspects, along with 17 items of herbal medicine evidence, were sent to Pattaya City Police Station for legal proceedings.
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