Police and officials resumed the search of Talat Mai Don Muang market in Bangkok for unlicensed cosmetics and food supplement products on Friday morning.
A 300-strong team from the Consumer Protection Police Division, the Tourist Police Division, local police, soldiers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Industrial Works Department and Revenue Department had warrants to search 12 more shops.
The joint team arrived at the market at 9am and the search began at 9.15am at a four-storey commercial building, Thai media reported.
Pol Gen Wirachai Songmetta, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police Office, said it was the third phase of the crackdown operation at the market.
The raids began on Wednesday, with searches of more than 200 shops and a large amount of food supplements and cosmetics suspected to be substandard or not registered with the FDA were reportedly seized for inspection.
On Thursday, 113 shops were searched and products seized from 103 of them for inspection, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
The officers were armed with search warrants for 12 shops on Friday. If not completed, the searches would continue of Saturday.
Anyone who tried to hinder the operation would be videotaped. Offenders could face a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of 40,000 baht, he said.
The massive operation came after authorities received complaints that around 200 stores were openly selling illegal products at Talat Mai Don Muang, including the brands Magic Skin and Lyn.
Magic Skin was found to be producing cosmetics and food supplements which were both substandard and unlicensed. Lyn has weight-loss drugs that have been linked to at least three deaths and are banned in Thailand.
