The Crime Suppression Division Commander announced that Economic Crime Police raided an illegal factory producing counterfeit products under the brands Nescafe, Ovaltine, and Downy, seizing 200,000 fake items secretly supplied to local grocery stores. Consumers are warned to be cautious when buying and using these products due to potential dangers.
On 24 Jul 2026 GMT+7, at the press briefing room on the 2nd floor of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Saowanasai, CIB Commander, Pol. Col. Phatarawut Onchuay, Deputy Commander of the Economic Crime Division, Pol. Col. Phuwadet Julkasavee, Superintendent of Division 1, and Pol. Lt. Col. Wiwatchai Kleankaeo, Deputy Superintendent of Division 1, together with officials from the Department of Intellectual Property, jointly announced the results of a crackdown on the illegal production of counterfeit Nescafe, Ovaltine, and Downy softener products. They seized machinery, packaging equipment, and 200,000 counterfeit items with damages exceeding 2 million baht.
Pol. Lt. Col. Wiwatchai said the Economic Crime Division received complaints from grocery store operators and residents in the Thonburi area about a group impersonating sales staff, offering counterfeit sachets of Nescafe coffee, Ovaltine cocoa, and Downy fabric softener at low wholesale prices. Upon investigation, officers traced the fake goods to a warehouse in Saraburi province and a house in Thung Khru district, Bangkok. They obtained court warrants and simultaneously searched both locations.
The raids resulted in the arrest of four suspects: 1. Mr. Kaset, 59; 2. Mr. Chan, 55; 3. Mr. Chattanawat, 47; and 4. Mr. Wanchana, 40. Authorities seized a total of 226,720 items valued at about 2,629,700 baht, including production and packaging machinery such as four powder and liquid filling machines, mixers, mixing tanks, packing-sealing-screening machines, barcode printers, and exhaust systems. Counterfeit products included Nescafe coffee, Ovaltine cocoa, and Downy fabric softener—416 boxes totaling 168,588 sachets—plus 119 sacks of cocoa powder, coffee powder, milk powder, sugar, and creamer. Packaging materials including sachets, rolls, and cardboard boxes bearing Downy, Nescafe, and Ovaltine logos totaled over 55,000 items.
Initially, the suspects were charged with "conspiracy to counterfeit and possess for sale goods bearing counterfeit trademarks registered in the kingdom, using the name, design, trademark, or any business-related marks of others to deceive the public into believing the goods are genuine." All four suspects confessed during interrogation.
Mr. Awut Wongsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, revealed ongoing efforts to combat intellectual property violations, stating that last year over 1,000 related cases were prosecuted, with more than 3.5 million items seized, amounting to damages exceeding 1.2 billion baht. In the first half of 2026 alone, 457 cases were pursued, and over 1.6 million items seized, with damages totaling more than 800 million baht.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak warned the public that consuming counterfeit sachets of Nescafe coffee, Ovaltine cocoa, and Downy fabric softener not only violates intellectual property laws but also poses direct health risks. Since these are food, beverage, and skin-contact products, they may contain low-grade chemicals, contaminants, or harmful dyes due to unsanitary production conditions. Such exposure can cause food poisoning, toxic buildup in the liver and kidneys, severe allergic reactions, and skin irritation. Additionally, these counterfeit goods damage the country's international reputation and credibility.
Allowing large-scale counterfeit consumer goods factories to operate negatively affects the country's intellectual property protection status, weakening the global perception of Thailand's law enforcement. The government loses tax revenue as counterfeit production and trade occur outside the formal economy, avoiding value-added tax (VAT) and corporate income tax, depriving the state of funds needed for national development.
The Central Investigation Bureau confirmed it will rigorously continue cracking down on intellectual property violations and urges the public to cooperate by reporting any sales of counterfeit trademarked goods. Tips can be submitted via the Central Investigation Bureau's website at https://cib.go.th/ or their Facebook page "Central Investigation Police".