Police raided four Pattaya-area call centers and arrested more than a dozen Thais and Russians on charges they were illegally selling beauty products, health supplements and insurance.
As part of a larger operation targeting nine Chonburi telemarketers, Pattaya, Nongprue and Najomtien Police separately stormed offices and homes on Soi Land Office, the railway parallel road, and Mountain Village 1 in Sattahip District Jan. 18.
American-Thai JD Rojhiransakul was taken into custody at Mojo Call Center Co. on Soi Land Office where 51 people were using computers to sell health and beauty aids. Authorities seized 55 computers, but not before Rojhiransakul allegedly shut down the company’s server in Germany, preventing police and Health Ministry officials from accessing the records.
Authorities accuse the company of being clandestinely foreign-controlled, selling unregistered products and illegally exaggerating their benefits.
More than 700 boxes of products were seized next at Top Trend Manufacturing Co. in East Pattaya. Owner Chawannutch Yezeepowiz, 32, was taken in for questioning, but released without charge pending inspection of the goods. If they are found to be unregistered and illegal she will be arrested, police said.
Fourteen Russians were found to be working illegally at two homes in Najomtien’s Mountain Village 1. In all, 73 people, including two Russians, were found at one company run by Yupawadee Sophan. Police seized 78 computers and other equipment.
The other house served as the base for a call center hocking insurance to foreign tourists. None of the 12 Russians found there had work permits.
