Thai Police Raid Warehouse, Seize 100,000 Fake Cosmetics
2026-03-09 - 07:33
PATHUM THANI — 9 March 2026, Consumer protection police raided a Chinese-run warehouse and seized more than 100,000 counterfeit toothpaste and cosmetics, authorities said on Monday, amid reports the fake goods were being sold cheaply on a popular online shopping app. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit Lertsitthikul, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division, ordered officers to search a warehouse in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province, after complaints from the public about a surge of counterfeit toothpaste and cosmetics being sold online in the area. Police found a Chinese national identified as Mr. Junxiao acting as the site’s caretaker. A search uncovered 10 types of illegal and counterfeit products totalling 122,872 items, with estimated damages exceeding 6 million baht. The most frequently counterfeited product was D.dent toothpaste, with 95,600 tubes seized. Other fake items included Dentiste’ toothpaste, Garnier lotions and skin creams, Yerpall skincare products and cosmetics labelled in foreign languages without official registration numbers. Authorities coordinated with the legitimate manufacturers and identified several ways to distinguish genuine products from fakes. Authentic packaging from batches produced since January 2026 contains a company watermark on the plastic seal, while counterfeit products lack the company’s anti-counterfeit sticker. When scanned, QR codes on fake products display the word “YAOGAO”, while genuine codes show a mix of letters and numbers. Genuine products also have a shelf life of three years from the production date, whereas the fake items state only two years. Police have handed the caretaker to investigators at the Consumer Protection Police Division for legal proceedings on charges of selling counterfeit cosmetics, distributing unregistered cosmetics and possessing goods bearing forged trademarks for sale. The offences carry a maximum penalty of four years in prison or a fine of up to 400,000 baht. Authorities are also working to identify and arrest the warehouse owner. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Chawanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, warned the public that such products come into direct contact with the body and may contain unsafe chemicals that could cause severe allergic reactions or lead to toxic buildup. “Do not let unrealistically low prices become the bait that traps you,” he said.