Cops raid warehouse selling illegal weight-loss peptide injections online
Police raided a warehouse selling illegal weight-loss peptide injections online in Thailand.
Officers on Friday stormed the distribution hub on the outskirts of Bangkok, where they found stocks of unregistered peptide injections ready to be shipped to customers.
Police seized unregistered 'Haus of Peptide' kits reportedly containing peptide vials, sterile water, insulin pens, alcohol swabs and sets of instructions.
The haul was estimated to be worth more than 52 million baht, officials said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched the raid following complaints from worried parents whose daughters were using sketchy Haus of Peptides products.
The operation was allegedly shipping around 100 boxes every day, with each box sold for 2,900 baht.
Investigators said the warehouse had allegedly been operating as an online distribution centre for around a year, with migrant workers hired to pack the products for shipping via private courier services.
They traced the sales to a social media account called ‘Hom Review of Quality Products Only', which was allegedly advertising the peptide injections.
FDA officials later confirmed the products were unregistered, sparking the crackdown.
Police said those behind the operation could face charges of selling modern drugs without authorisation, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
They also allegedly violated the law on selling unregistered medicinal products, punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, a fine not exceeding 5,000 baht, or both.
Police Colonel Suphachai Chaisuwan, superintendent of the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division, said the operation showed the risks posed by illegal vendors who put profits ahead of consumer safety.
He said: 'Consumers are still not sufficiently aware of the serious dangers of self-medication. We will continue to work with the Food and Drug Administration to monitor such activities, and anyone found violating the law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.'
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the raid successfully prevented illegal peptide pens from reaching the public.
He said: ‘This operation successfully dismantled a major illicit network involved in the illegal manufacturing of injectable peptide drugs, seizing medications and injection equipment valued at over 50 million baht.'
He also warned people not to buy or inject peptide-based weight-loss products without medical supervision, saying improperly used weight-loss injections can cause serious side effects.
Somlerk Jeungsmarn, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, added that the ministry has been continuously monitoring and stopping illegal sales of GLP-1 weight-loss pens.
FDA secretary-general Supattra Boonserm urged the public to buy FDA-approved products instead, as these have been vetted for quality and safety.
