BANGKOK, Thailand – In a joint operation by the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seven Chinese grocery stores across Bangkok were raided as part of phase two of a crackdown, Sep 13. Authorities seized over 2,000 items of food products lacking FDA approval, which had been illegally smuggled into Thailand.
The CPPD, Pol. Col. Weerapong Klaithong collaborated with the FDA in inspecting the seven stores. A total of 97 types of products, amounting to 2,411 items, were confiscated. The operation followed reports from the FDA indicating that several stores were selling smuggled food from China without proper labeling or FDA registration, posing a health risk to consumers.
The illegal products were transported via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and stored in warehouses in the outskirts of Bangkok before being distributed to various stores. Despite previous crackdowns in July, which had some impact, the illegal sales resumed after attention subsided. This prompted a second wave of enforcement.
Weerachai Nolwachai, Deputy Secretary-General of the FDA, explained that the products smuggled in from China were initially stored in warehouses in nearby provinces before being distributed to stores in Bangkok and other regions. He emphasized that provincial public health offices are on high alert to monitor and prevent further illegal distribution.
This operation serves as a warning to businesses involved in the sale of unregulated products, with continued inspections expected to prevent potential health risks for consumers.
