The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Pathum Thani Provincial Public Health Office have dismantled a major fake cough medicine manufacturing network in Pathum Thani. Raiding four sites, they seized over 130,000 counterfeit cough medicine bottles, along with machinery, raw materials, and production equipment valued at more than 30 million baht. The counterfeit products were linked to being mixed into the "4x100" drink popular among youths.
On 24 June 2026, Pol Maj Gen Kongkrit Lertsittikul, Commander of the Department of Special Investigation, ordered Pol Col Weerapong Klaithong, Superintendent of Division 4, to join forces with officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Pathum Thani Provincial Public Health Office to execute court warrants to search four locations involved in the production and distribution of fake cough medicine in Pathum Thani Province.
The first location was a storage and sales site for fake cough medicine in Khlong Hok Subdistrict, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani. Authorities seized 127,900 bottles of ready-made Datissin brand fake cough medicine, 6,800 empty plastic bottles for packaging, and two stainless steel pots used for boiling cough medicine.
The second site was a counterfeit cough medicine production facility in Lam Luk Ka Subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani. Officials found 11,400 bottles of finished fake cough medicine, 4,086 bottles in production, and two tanks each holding 1,250 liters of solution. They also seized more than 114,165 counterfeit labels, over 125,937 packaging items, 28 pieces of machinery and production equipment, and more than 802 raw material items.
At the third location in Rangsit Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani, authorities discovered 18,090 counterfeit cough medicine labels and 240 gallons of drinking water used in the production process.
The fourth site, also in Rangsit Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, yielded 100 bottles of finished fake cough medicine, 297,150 counterfeit labels, one gallon of unidentified red liquid, 7,000 screen-printed bottle caps, and three gas burner heads.
Across all four sites, authorities confiscated a total of 139,400 bottles of Datissin brand fake cough medicine, 4,086 bottles in production, 429,405 counterfeit labels, along with empty bottles, caps, packaging, machinery, equipment, and raw materials, altogether valued at more than 30 million baht.
Officials received information from social media indicating that syrup cough medicines and certain liquid medicines were being misused by mixing them with kratom water to create the intoxicating "4x100" drink. This practice may lead youths to progress to using more dangerous illicit substances.
Investigations revealed that the offenders smuggled raw materials, chemicals, and packaging from multiple sources to produce and package counterfeit cough medicine inside a warehouse in Lam Luk Ka District before distributing the products. They frequently changed production locations to avoid detection by authorities. This network had previously committed similar offenses but continued operations without regard for consumer safety.
Initially, their actions violate the Drug Act, specifically "manufacturing modern medicine without authorization," punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine up to 10,000 baht, and "manufacturing and selling counterfeit drugs," punishable by three years to life imprisonment and fines ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 baht.
Pharmacist Suphattra Boonserm, Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration, urged the public to be vigilant and to monitor children and youths to prevent misuse of allergy and cough medicines, particularly their use in making the "4x100" drink. She warned that besides being a gateway to drug abuse, counterfeit medicines made in illicit, unsanitary facilities risk contamination with microorganisms and harmful substances that could severely damage health.
Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowana Sai, Commissioner of the Crime Suppression Division, stated that police and FDA officials have continuously monitored the production and sale of syrup cough and allergy medicines, which are dangerous drugs often misused by at-risk groups and youths as part of the "4x100" intoxicant. The illicit sale via social media has persisted. Genuine cough medicine is intended to treat illness and directly affects public health. Counterfeit products lacking active ingredients may fail to cure illnesses and pose life-threatening risks. Manufacturers and sellers must obtain proper licenses to ensure medicines meet standards and effectively treat diseases.