Bangkok Police Raid Nets Counterfeit Drug Haul

A task force in Bangkok, Thailand, recently raided four drug store houses and found more than 200 varieties of counterfeit drugs.

The task force, made up of police and health officials, were tipped off that the stockrooms in the Din Daeng district were distribution points for fake drugs, according to the Bangkok Post.

The drugs that were faked included medications for HIV/Aids, cancer, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and birth control, plus antidepressants, antibiotics and cough medicines.

Major General Jaturong Phummarin, head of the Consumer Protection Division, told the news source that police would continue to investigate the matter to determine the extent of the networks that were supplied with counterfeit drugs by the warehouses.

The owners of the raided facilities are facing charges of smuggling and distributing restricted drugs and selling counterfeit and unregistered drugs, reports the news provider.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the task force operation was part of an effort to protect consumers from counterfeit drugs, which Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Pipat Yingseri said could be lethal.