Police have arrested seven suspects for involvement in the sale of deadly and falsely labelled weight loss drugs branded as Lyn and which are believed to have killed four customers recently.
Deputy national police chief Wirachai Songmetta announced the arrests on Monday and warned buyers to immediately stop taking Lyn-labelled drugs, which are advertised as a supplementary food.
He believed there were a "large number of victims" deceived into buying the products, which claimed to be FDA licensed,
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the products and said last week they contain two dangerous chemicals banned since 2010 - sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, and bisacodyl, a type of laxative. They both can cause severe side effects, especially on heart and blood vessels.
An initial check found the manufacturer of Lyn used an FDA licence granted to a fish sauce, apparently to fool consumers, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
Officers were seizing the products, found stored in Pathumthani and Chonburi, after they arrested the seven suspects working with the product's owner.
According to investigators, Lyn drugs are made at a Food Science Supply Service Co factory in Pathumthani's Sam Khok district and the sales agent is Ekakkharin Co, run by Phinlaphat Ekakkharin who resides in Chon Buri, Matichon newspaper reported.
"We have already summoned more suspects for questioning," Pol Gen Wirachai said.
If are found guilty, they could be jailed for up to 10 years and/or fined up 100,000 baht.
Investigators were waiting for the results of postmortem examinations of the victims. The findings will help them decide whether to press an additional charge of premeditated murder, he said.
An initial examination found the four victims died of similar symptoms, including heart failure and arteriosclerosis, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
Their deaths were reported from March 28 to April 28.
The victims, aged between 31 and 48 years, had no previous medical record of severe disease.
"They were of working age and were believed to be in good health," Pol Gen Wirachai said. "One was even a badminton player."
Monday's operation followed the morning arrest of a man in Samut Prakan, who admitted he bought Lyn products from the company and sold them online.
"The products have many reviews and are as popular as Magic Skin," Pol Gen Wirachai said.
Magic Skin is a brand of cosmetics and food supplements which authorities say are also substandard and unlicensed.
Products sold by the brand, including the dietary supplement Fern Cleo, have become widely known because many celebrities were hired to review and endorse them.
A doctor is also allegedly involved. Police identified him as Piyaphong "Dr Bon" Howilailak, a specialist in beauty care, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
He and his wife Pawina "Nam Pheung Take Me Out" Namsongkhram and Kasit "Ying Yuai" Wonchingtan were found to have endorsed Cleo.
Police will summons them to report for questioning on May 11, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
