PATTAYA — Tourist Police have apprehended four individuals linked to a fraudulent herbal medicine operation in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The suspects were accused of deceiving foreign tourists, particularly Indians, with false claims about rapid weight loss and hair growth remedies.
The arrests followed a raid at Green World Herbal Pharmacy in Moo 10, Nongprue, conducted by a joint team of Tourist Police, Immigration officers, local police, and public health officials. Complaints from tourists about aggressive sales tactics by Pakistani staff triggered the investigation. Authorities seized 28 bottles of unlabeled powders suspected to be part of the fraudulent scheme.
The suspects include one Pakistani man, a Myanmar woman, and two Thai women. They reportedly pressured customers into buying overpriced products, which were priced between thousands and tens of thousands of baht. Some customers were allegedly threatened when they refused to make a purchase.
Undercover agents posing as customers played a key role in exposing the operation. Charges against the suspects include selling unauthorized drugs, operating without permits, and working illegally. Eleven pieces of evidence were seized during the raid.
The incident underscores the persistence of herbal medicine scams in Pattaya’s tourist hotspots. In a recent case, an Indian tourist reported being coerced into buying herbal medicine after being approached by two Pakistani men on Pattaya Second Road. They falsely claimed their product could cure the tourist’s hand birthmarks within two weeks.
Authorities warn that some previously shut-down fraudulent shops have reopened under new management, continuing to target unsuspecting visitors. Efforts are ongoing to address these scams and safeguard tourists in the region.
