KOH PHANGAN — British man secretly operates Botox injection service for clients, mostly foreign tourists, on Koh Phangan for nearly half a year. The situation unraveled when a customer experienced facial swelling after injection and complained to the tourist police.
On September 3, the Koh Phangan Tourist Police revealed that their unit received a complaint from a tourist who was a customer of a beauty clinic in Moo 5, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province.
After receiving Botox injections, the customer experienced an allergic reaction with facial swelling, redness, and bruising at the injection site. The customer also reported facial stiffness and inability to control facial muscles. They sought medical attention at a hospital on Koh Phangan before reporting to the police that this beauty establishment was owned by a foreigner operating without proper authorization.
Subsequently, Police Lieutenant General Saksiri Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, ordered an investigation in collaboration with the Koh Phangan District Chief, public health officials, district security officers, Koh Phangan Police investigators, and Koh Phangan Immigration Police.
On September 2, officials arrested Mr. Thomas, a 42-year-old British national, at house number 6, Moo 5, Koh Phangan Subdistrict. The front of the house displayed a sign reading “Delivery Tom, Jessica, Koh Phangan,” with over 120 beauty products found as evidence.
Officials charged him with “establishing a healthcare facility without permission under Section 16 of the Medical Facility Act 1998, selling medication without permission under Section 12, possessing unregistered drugs, assisting in the sale, purchase, or receipt of goods known to have not passed customs procedures, and as a foreigner working beyond permitted rights (beauty enhancement).” He was later handed over to Koh Phangan Police Station investigators for prosecution.
Mr. Thomas admitted to operating a beauty enhancement facility, providing Botox and filler injections for 5 months. He rented a house from a Thai person for 29,000 baht per month, serving both in-house and off-site clients. Customers booked through WhatsApp under the name “Botox Koh Phangan,” with prices ranging from 800 to 10,000 baht depending on the service.
He stated that he ordered the products through the Alibaba application from China, with some items ordered within Thailand. The 120 seized items were valued at over 3.5 million baht, including cosmetics and chemical products.
Police Lieutenant General Saksiri has instructed chiefs of tourist police stations in pilot tourist areas and nearby regions to intensify efforts to eliminate illegal activities by foreign groups, enforcing the law strictly in all cases.
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