PATTAYA — Tourist Police arrested four suspects at a herbal medicine shop in Pattaya for fraudulently selling products with false claims of rapid weight loss and hair growth.
The raid at Green World Herbal Pharmacy in Moo 10, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi Province, followed complaints from foreign tourists, particularly from Indian tourists, about aggressive Pakistani salespeople making unrealistic promises about seeing results within seven days.
The joint operation involved Tourist Police, Immigration, local police, and public health officials. Authorities seized 28 unlabeled bottles containing various colored powders. The suspects – one Pakistani man, one Myanmar woman, and two Thai women – allegedly threatened customers who refused to purchase their overpriced products, which ranged from thousands to tens of thousands of baht.
The arrests came after an undercover operation using foreign agents posing as customers. The suspects face charges for manufacturing and selling unauthorized drugs, selling herbal products without permits, and working without proper permits. Police seized 11 pieces of evidence.
Pattaya authorities report persistent herbal medicine scams targeting tourists, with some shut-down shops reopening under new management to continue fraudulent operations.
In a recent case, an Indian tourist filed a police complaint after being coerced into purchasing “miraculous” herbal medicine. Two Pakistani men approached him on Pattaya Second Road, claiming they could cure his hand birthmarks within two weeks. Despite stating he couldn’t afford it, the sellers prepared the medicine immediately and pressured him to make the purchase.
These scams are particularly prevalent in tourist-heavy areas of Pattaya and Chonburi, highlighting ongoing challenges in protecting visitors from fraudulent vendors.
Related articles:
- Indian Tourist Reports Scam by Pakistani Herbal Vendors in Pattaya
- Pakistani Men Arrested for Forcing Herbal Sales to Indian Tourists in Pattaya
- Illegal and Overpriced Herbal Products Lead to Multiple Shop Arrests in Pattaya
