Man arrested for selling counterfeit shampoos in Nonthaburi

The Thai authorities arrested a man for producing counterfeit shampoo by refilling old bottles and distributing them at significantly lower market prices.

Garnering his knowledge from YouTube tutorials, the individual’s actions have led to a coordinated crackdown by the Central Investigation Police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealing that counterfeit products could pose serious risks to consumers’ eye health.

Earlier today, a joint task force led by high-ranking police officials and the Secretary-General of the FDA announced the results of a raid that dismantled a counterfeit production operation dealing with fake shampoo, hair conditioner, and shower cream from popular brands. The raid resulted in the seizure of 779 items across 56 product lines, estimated to be worth over 100,000 baht.

The operation stemmed from a tip-off to the Consumer Protection Police Division about a residence in the Bua Thong village in Nonthaburi province that was secretly manufacturing various shampoo brands.

These products were being sold at local community and floating markets at prices suspiciously lower than their genuine counterparts. An investigation led to the discovery of the location and subsequent search of the premises.

During the raid, 31 year old Damrongdet was found to be the lead in the operation. Authorities confiscated a variety of products ready for sale, raw materials for production, including chemical powders and liquids, perfume essences, and used packaging bottles. Seven popular brands were found to have been counterfeited, comprising over 159 formulas.

YouTube inspiration

Damrongdet, who completed education up to primary school, admitted that he learned to produce shampoo, conditioner, and shower cream by watching YouTube videos. Having developed formulas resembling those on the market, he began selling his products, which received positive feedback from customers.

This led to an increase in production. He purchased used bottles from a recycling shop in Sai Mai at the price of 50 baht per kilogramme, cleaned them to appear new, and sourced raw materials from several chemical stores around Bangkok and the Bang Bua Thong market.

The manufacturing process involved mixing active ingredients in a tank, adding thickening agents, and combining them with tap water to achieve a product similar in texture, colour, and scent to genuine brands. These were then bottled and prepared for sale.

Despite the product’s alluring price tag compared to their genuine counterparts, a serious health risk is to be considered.

The lettering on the bottles was often unclear due to the cleaning process, therefore a fresh plastic seal was applied to give the impression of a new, factory-made product. This practice constitutes an offence under the Cosmetics Act of 2015.

The FDA’s deputy secretary-general highlighted the health risks of using counterfeit cosmetics, which may cause allergic reactions, hair loss, and skin rashes.

Consumers beware

Consumers were urged to purchase health products from reputable sources and were reminded that medications can only be bought from pharmacies or prescribed by a medical facility.

The FDA’s website and various consumer hotlines were provided for reporting suspicious products.

The police and FDA officials stressed the importance of consumer vigilance and the consequences of purchasing products solely based on low prices.

The operation not only sought to protect public health but also to remind online sellers of the legal implications of distributing illegal goods. The public is encouraged to report any illegal activities to the Consumer Protection Police Division.