Samut prakan: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raided a warehouse of counterfeit coffee using forged FDA registration numbers, seizing over 1 million items. The operation dismantled a distribution center for fraudulent food products, cosmetics, and hazardous materials being sold online, seizing items valued at over 12 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, the CIB, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaowanasai and other high-ranking officers, collaborated with the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) to execute the raid in Samut Prakan Province. The operation resulted in the seizure of 1,073,327 items, including counterfeit coffee products with misleading FDA labels designed to deceive consumers into believing they were safe.
The investigation, spearheaded by Division 4 of the CPPD, revealed the online sale of substandard health products, leading to the discovery of a storage location in Bang Bua District. On June 9, 2016, armed with a search warrant, officers seized numerous counterfeit items, including Phonenix Roastz brand coffee products, Golden Elephant brand latte coffee, and various dietary supplements.
The warehouse functioned as a fulfillment facility for trendy products ordered from China, which were then distributed to Thai customers. The operation, managed by a Chinese investor, shipped 200-300 pieces daily and had been running for about six months. Authorities identified offenses under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and the Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558 (2015) related to selling counterfeit food and cosmetics without Thai labels.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Chaowanasai voiced concerns about the risks posed by counterfeit products in online marketplaces, emphasizing the need for stringent legal action against such criminal networks. He urged businesses to refrain from prioritizing short-term profits over consumer safety and encouraged the public to report illegal activities to the CIB hotline or their Facebook page.