Police seize illegal whitening serums worth 22 million baht
Authorities seized over 22 million baht worth of illegal skin-whitening serums registered as cosmetics to bypass drug controls, with products supplied to Bangkok beauty clinics for dangerous injectable treatments.
BANGKOK — 20 May 2026, Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau and the Food and Drug Administration have raided locations linked to an illegal skin-whitening serum operation accused of registering injectable products as cosmetics to evade stricter drug controls.
Authorities seized more than 35,000 items worth over 22 million baht (£470,000), including cosmetics, unregistered medicines and medical devices, during searches at a beauty clinic, a storage facility and a residence in Bangkok, police said on Wednesday.
The operation followed complaints from members of the public and Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a cosmetic brand allegedly being misused by mixing it with saline solution for injection into the body. The products were promoted online and supplied to cosmetic clinics, investigators said.
Police said the investigation found that the product owner had hired a Thai company to manufacture glutathione-based substances, commonly marketed for skin whitening, but registered them as cosmetics rather than medicines because cosmetic approval procedures were easier.
The products were then allegedly sold to aesthetic clinics as injectable glutathione treatments and falsely marketed as imported goods. According to authorities, clinics used the products for skin-enhancing injections administered to clients.
Investigators said those involved would face charges under multiple laws covering cosmetics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Potential offences include importing cosmetics without Thai-language labelling, false or incomplete product labels, imports that bypassed FDA checkpoints, selling unlicensed medical devices and distributing medicines without approval or registration.
Supatra Boonserm, secretary-general of Thailand's FDA, said offenders had exploited the easier cosmetic registration process instead of seeking drug approval.
"They were promoted as imported products or injectable skin vitamins," she said. "Using products in ways that differ from their approved purpose is extremely dangerous because they have not undergone safety assessment for injection into the body."
She urged clinics, hospitals and consumers to scrutinise labels and verify injectable products carefully, warning that products intended for injection are classified as high-risk and must undergo rigorous evaluation for safety, quality and effectiveness.
Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Lt. Gen. Natsak Chewnasai said the operation aimed to prevent potentially serious harm to the public.
"Cosmetics are designed to be applied, not injected," he said. "Injecting unapproved and non-standard products into the body exposes consumers to risks including bloodstream infections and severe allergic reactions."
