PATHUM THANI — 24 June 2026 , Police, working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial public health officials, raided four locations in Pathum Thani and dismantled a major counterfeit cough syrup production network, seizing more than 130,000 bottles of fake medicine and equipment worth over 30 million baht.
The operation was ordered by Pol. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit Lertsittikul, Commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), and led by Pol. Col. Weeraphong Klaithong, along with FDA and Pathum Thani health officials.
The first site, in Khlong Hok subdistrict, Khlong Luang district, was used as a storage and distribution point. Officers seized 127,900 bottles of counterfeit cough syrup of a well-known brand, 6,800 empty plastic bottles, and two large stainless-steel boiling pots.
At the second site in Lam Luk Ka district, which served as a production facility, police found 11,400 finished bottles, 4,086 bottles in production, and two 1,250-litre tanks of chemical solution. Authorities also confiscated 114,165 fake labels, 125,937 packaging items, 28 pieces of machinery, and more than 800 raw material items.
The third location in Rangsit, Thanyaburi district, was found to contain 18,090 fake labels and 240 gallons of water used in production.
At the fourth site, also in Rangsit, officers seized 100 finished bottles of counterfeit cough syrup, 297,150 fake labels, one gallon of unidentified red liquid, 7,000 printed caps, and three gas burner heads.
In total, authorities confiscated 139,400 bottles of finished counterfeit cough syrup, 4,086 bottles in production, and 429,405 fake labels, along with packaging materials, machinery, and raw ingredients. The total value of seized items was estimated at more than 30 million baht.
Investigators said information from social media indicated that cough syrup and certain liquid medicines were being misused by mixing them with kratom juice to produce a psychoactive drink known as “4×100,” popular among some youth groups seeking intoxication effects.
Police found the network sourced chemicals, packaging, and materials from multiple suppliers and frequently relocated production sites to avoid detection. The group was also previously involved in similar offences but continued illegal operations despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Authorities said the conduct constitutes offences under the Medicines Act, including manufacturing modern medicines without a licence, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 10,000 baht, as well as producing and selling counterfeit drugs, which carries penalties ranging from three years to life imprisonment and fines of 10,000–50,000 baht.
FDA Secretary-General Phanphatra Boonserm urged the public to monitor and prevent children from misusing cough and allergy medicines, particularly mixing them into “4×100” drinks.
She warned that beyond being a gateway to drug abuse, counterfeit medicines produced in unhygienic illegal facilities may be contaminated with microbes or harmful substances that pose serious health risks.
Pol. Gen. Nattasak Chaowanachai, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, said authorities have continuously worked with the FDA to monitor the illegal sale and misuse of cough syrup and antihistamine drugs among at-risk groups and youths.
He added that such medicines are intended for treating illness, and consuming counterfeit products may lead to ineffective treatment, worsening conditions, or even death, stressing that proper licensing is essential to ensure pharmaceutical safety and standards.