Bangkok—
On October 17th, 2023, Pol. Maj. Gen. Anan Nanasombat, the commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), and Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials launched a search operation in six locations across Bangkok on Codeine-laced syrup and unregistered drugs.
During the operation, illegal syrup products were suspected of containing prohibited substances with over 865 units at an estimated value of 1 million baht.
The FDA received a report on cough syrups suspected of containing Codeine that was popular among teenagers to be used in a mixer with soda for recreational drug purposes. The investigative team gathered evidence on social media and conducted a field inspection which then led to the search of 6 different locations in Bangkok as given permission by the court authority.
As for the property in dispute, cough syrups were sent for examination on illicit and prohibited substances, especially Codeine.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Anan publicly stated that the trend among teenagers that use the side effects of cough syrups and painkillers mixed with illicit substances for illegal drugs is called “Lean”. With prohibited ingredients and inappropriate use, it would lead to drug addiction and negative effects on the body and mind.
The CPPD officials pledged to urgently capture those wrongdoers and prosecute them to the utmost extent.
