A crackdown on a network of cough syrup retailers in Bangkok resulted in the arrest of seven non-pharmacist vendors

Royal Thai Police 

Assistant Commissioner of Police announces that police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided 7 pharmacies, arresting fake pharmacists and dismantling a network distributing cough syrup used in the mixture of 4x100 (a Thai methamphetamine drug).

Today (February 18, 2026), the Royal Thai Police, represented by Pol. Lt. Gen. Krisada Kanjanlongkorn, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), represented by Pol. Lt. Gen. Natsak Chaowanasai, Commissioner of the CIB, Pol. Maj. Gen. Sophon Saraphat, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Saruti Khwaengsopa, Deputy Commissioners of the CIB, and officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), under the command of Pol. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit Lertsittikul, Commander of the CPPD,

The Food and Drug Administration, represented by Pharmacist Supatra Boonsearm, Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration, Pharmacist Lertchai Lertwut, Deputy Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Rungrutai Muangprasitporn, Deputy Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration.

A crackdown on a network of cough syrup retailers in Bangkok resulted in the arrest of seven non-pharmacist vendors. They were found to be operating pharmacies as part of a network distributing cough syrup to teenagers who mix it with kratom leaf tea.

A total of 23 items were seized from 7 locations, including 5,370 bottles of cough syrup, 601 painkiller tablets, and 826 tablets of allergy and other medications, with a total value of 483,430 baht. Seven suspects, who are not pharmacists and have no pharmaceutical knowledge, were arrested. Of those arrested, one has a primary school education (Grade 6), three have a junior high school education (Grade 9), two have a high school education (Grade 12), and one has a vocational certificate.

Initially, such actions constitute an offense under...

1. The Pharmacy Profession Act B.E. 2537 (1994), Section 28, states that "anyone who practices pharmacy or represents in any way that leads others to believe that they are entitled to practice pharmacy without registration and a license" is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 30,000 baht, or both.

2. Offenses under the Narcotics Act, B.E. 2510 (1967).

- The offense of "selling dangerous drugs while a pharmacist is not on duty" is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 baht.

- For those in charge of operations (pharmacists), the offense of "failing to be present on duty during business hours, including failing to control the sale of medicines, control the dispensing of dangerous drugs, and control the keeping of drug purchase and sales records as required by the ministerial regulations" is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 baht.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Chaowanasai, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), stated that recently, CSD officers received tips to investigate high-risk pharmacies that sell only certain drugs to teenagers to mix into drinks to create intoxication, instead of selling drugs for the general public to treat illnesses. CSD Division 4, in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been monitoring and investigating the production and sale of such drugs in all aspects, including the production of counterfeit drugs and the distribution of dangerous cough syrups and allergy medications that are misused by at-risk groups and teenagers as a drug mixture known as "4x100" to induce intoxication. He requested public cooperation, urging anyone who encounters drug vendors at pharmacies who are not pharmacists to report them to the CSD hotline 1135 or the CSD Consumer Alert Facebook page.

In addition, the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) also seized illegal peptide injections and substandard sanitary pads.

#Cough syrup  #Drug suppression

#Royal Thai Police

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