Authorities have launched a major crackdown on illegal weight-loss supplements following the death of a person who reportedly ingested the product "Baschi", purchased online.
The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), working jointly with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Sakon Nakhon Provincial Public Health Office, conducted raids at four locations in Sakon Nakhon and Nonthaburi, seizing 18 containers of the suspect product.
The operation was ordered by Pol Maj Gen Khongkrit Lertsittikul, CPPD commander, after investigations revealed that the supplement lacked FDA registration and had previously been flagged for containing sibutramine, a banned substance classified as a Type 1 controlled drug.
Raids targeted residences and private delivery hubs linked to online sales, including a house in Sakon Nakhon identified as the sender's address on parcels received by the deceased.
During the search, officers discovered returned parcels from a TikTok shop -- the same platform where the victim had purchased the product -- containing 15 jars of supplements. An additional three jars were seized from a residence in Nonthaburi. All confiscated items were handed over to CPPD investigators for legal proceedings.
The FDA has collected samples for laboratory testing at the Department of Medical Sciences to confirm the presence of sibutramine or other prohibited substances. If confirmed, charges will be expanded to include producers, distributors, and all parties involved in the supply chain.
FDA secretary-general Supattra Boonserm issued a public warning, urging consumers to verify product registration and heed FDA alerts before purchasing health supplements.
She stressed that sibutramine poses serious risks to the cardiovascular system, including high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Side effects may also include insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, and rapid heartbeat.
The FDA said that individuals with pre-existing heart disease or cerebrovascular conditions face heightened danger, as excessive intake of sibutramine can lead to fatal complications.
