Bangkok Post – Raid on factory producing fake allergy syrup

The factory producing the counterfeit syrup earned 450,000 baht a month.

Police raided a factory in Nonthaburi that was producing fake allergy syrup, resulting in the arrest of its owner and manager.

Armed with a search warrant issued by the Nonthaburi Provincial Court, a team of investigators from Metropolitan Police’s District 7 searched the factory on a nine-rai (14,400 square metre) plot of land in Sai Noi district’s Rat Niyom district on Friday.

Authorities seized 12,000 bottles of fake allergy syrup, 80,000 empty bottles, and counterfeit drug manufacturing equipment. The bottles were labeled with fake “Allerin Syrup.”

Police said on Saturday they had arrested factory owner Mee, 37, and factory manager Tha Wee, 25. Their surnames were not released.

The raids were conducted after a representative of a company that manufactures the genuine Allerin syrup brand complained that fake allergy syrup using their brand was being sold online. The complaint was filed at Tamasala Police Station.

Police launched an investigation and the factory was searched.

Mee admitted that he and Tawee worked together to manufacture the fake allergy syrup under the brand. The two business partners were responsible for delivering the product to distributors and other customers who ordered it online.

The owner claims the factory had been illegally producing allergy syrup for four to five months. The factory was able to sell about 50 boxes per month, each containing 200 bottles and priced at 9,000 baht, generating revenue of about 450,000 baht per month.

Natthawut Simanurak, the legitimate company’s sales director, said the counterfeit medicines had cost his company about 100 million baht. He believes Mee’s factory had been illegally producing the fakes for at least a year. The products were sold to drug stores and to teenage customers, Natthawut said.

The suspect has been remanded in police custody pending legal action.