CIB and FDA Bust Illegal Whitening Serum Operation Disguised as Cosmetics but Injected into Bodies
Thai authorities seized over 35,600 illegal whitening serum units worth 22 million baht after discovering a beauty operation was injecting cosmetics falsely registered as drugs into customers' bodies. The product owner faces multiple charge
On May 20, 2025, Police Lieutenant General Nattasak Chaowarasat, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, ordered Police Colonel Kongkriche Lersithikul, head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and Police Major General Veeraphong Klaaitong, deputy commander of the CIB's Division 4, to join the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conducting raids on beauty clinics and storage facilities in Bangkok. Authorities seized 35,645 units of illegal cosmetic products, unregistered drugs, and medical devices valued at approximately 22 million baht from three locations: a beauty clinic on Kalpapruek Road in Bang Bon District, a storage facility in Nuaminthra Soi 111 in Bueng Kum District, and a residential import and distribution point in Bang Ramat, Talat Noi District.
The operation stemmed from public complaints and FDA referrals regarding a cosmetic brand being misused by mixing saline solution and injecting it into the body, with sales promoted through social media and beauty clinics. The investigation revealed that the product owner contracted a Thai manufacturer to produce glutathione but falsely registered it as a cosmetic product to avoid stricter drug registration requirements. The products were then sold to beauty clinics with claims they were imported glutathione drugs, when in fact they were being injected into customers' bodies for skin whitening treatments.
Investigators plan to charge the importer under the Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558 for importing cosmetics without Thai labeling, misrepresenting labels, incomplete required information, illegal importation, falsely registered products, and counterfeit cosmetics. The seller of unregistered fillers faces charges under the Medical Device Act B.E. 2551, while the seller of unregistered drugs faces charges under the Pharmaceutical Act B.E. 2510.
Pharmaceutical Secretary Supattra Bunserm stated that the offenders exploited the easier "cosmetic registration" process instead of drug registration, then falsely marketed and sold the products to beauty clinics as imported products or skin vitamins for injection. She warned that such misuse is extremely dangerous as products have not undergone safety assessments for injection and urged business operators to comply with the law. The FDA cautioned beauty clinics and hospitals to carefully verify labeling and usage of injectable products in ampule or vial form.
