Officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided three houses in Chiang Mai province on Thursday (March 8) and seized about 1.5 million fake food supplement pills and about 100,000 tablets of fake weight loss medication.
DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt-Col Korrawat Panprapakorn said that the three houses – one in Saraphi district and two others in Muang district – belong to M Company and were suspected to be used as warehouses to keep the fake products.
He said that the diet pills, brandnamed Hi Herb Slimming, were found to contain sibutramine substance which suppresses appetite for food which will cause weight loss among users, but it has dangerous side effects as it may result in blood loss in the heart or the narrowing of blood vessels.
The DSI deputy chief said that the fake diet pills and food supplements have become popular among female students and working women in Chiang Mai, prompting the authorities to investigate to find out the source or sources of these weight loss medication.
An informed DSI source said that a check of M Company’s bank accounts showed that the company has a revolving fund amounting to 50 million baht.