Thai Lieutenant General Leads Raid, Dismantles Massive Counterfeit Soy Sauce and Coffee Ring, Seizes Over 240,000 Products and Equipment

On December 1st, Thai authorities conducted a series of raids on a factory and multiple warehouses linked to a counterfeit consumer goods ring, confiscating over 240,000 products and raw materials.

The operation, led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in collaboration with the Economic Crime Suppression Division, targeted seven locations across Lopburi, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, and Bangkok.

The crackdown followed the arrest of several suppliers of counterfeit soy sauce, instant coffee, monosodium glutamate, and other substandard products.

Investigations revealed that the network had been affixing fake labels of well-known brands to deceive consumers. Authorities traced the supply chain from wholesale stores in Lopburi to the production facility and distribution hubs.

Inspections at the sites uncovered the large scale and sophistication of the operation. Police seized 118,100 counterfeit soy sauce labels, 12 boxes (144 bottles) of pre-packaged soy sauce, 1,881 empty bottles, and large mixing tanks containing finished soy sauce.

Additionally, approximately 122,333 units of raw materials were confiscated, including food coloring, acetic acid, sodium benzoate, 48 bags of salt, five bags of monosodium glutamate, and soy sauce flavorings. Production equipment such as mixing tanks, blenders, and hundreds of thousands of pre-printed labels were also seized.

According to police, the perpetrators collected used bottles from second-hand shops, cleaned them, and filled them with counterfeit products before distribution, primarily to stores in northeastern Thailand. The products were manufactured under unsanitary conditions, failing to meet safety standards.

Many batches exhibited abnormal colors and flavors, posing potential risks of contamination with harmful substances such as heavy metals or compounds detrimental to gut health.

In total, over 240,000 items and raw materials linked to the counterfeit food production were seized during the operation. Police have not disclosed the number of suspects arrested, citing ongoing investigations.

The suspects face charges under the Trademark Act and the Food Act, including offenses related to producing counterfeit food, mislabeling, and selling goods with fake trademarks.

The operation was directed by Police Lieutenant General Nattasak Chawanasai, Commissioner of the CIB; Police Major General Thatphum Charuprat, Commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division; and Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuwadet Julakasevi, with support from units under Bureau 1. Authorities are expanding their investigation to identify all involved parties and assess the entire supply chain to dismantle the large-scale counterfeit network.