More than 400,000 items of fake Botox, stem cells and breast enhancement injectables, worth an estimated 80 million baht, were seized by Department of Special Investigation police and officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Intellectual Property from 12 locations in Bangkok on Wednesday.
DSI chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said today that the successful raids were the a result of a two-year investigation, which dates back to the seizure of fake cosmetic medicines and beauty enhancement products in 2017, and the money trails of the beauty enhancement network suspected of involvement in the import of the fake products.
In a coordinated operation, the officials raided 12 storage locations, a clinic and a company in Suan Luang, Hua Mark, Happy Land, Bang Kapi, Wang Thong Lang, Lat Phrao, Ratchadapisek, Sukhumvit, Suriwong and Din Daeng.
Pol Col Paisit said that the amount of revolving funds in the bank accounts of the gang and its network was as high as 800 million baht, adding that the DSI would also file charges of money laundering against the key suspects.
Department of Intellectual Property chief Pol Lt-Col Payao Thongsen said that the network responsible for importing fake Botox and breast enhancement injectables, or fillers, was linked to several cases of breast deformations after the patients were injected with fake material.
He said that officials found a refrigerator full of about 1,400 fake Botox items worth about seven million baht.
The fake beauty enhancement products were offered for sale through Instagram and Line to customers and through beauty clinics.
FDA deputy secretary-general Supattra Boonserm, meanwhile, warned women of the health threats associated with the use of fillers, Botox and collagen purchased online or from unregistered beauty clinics.
