Law enforcement zeroes in on merchants peddling illicit and hazardous merchandise
In a recent operation, the "Team Sud Soi" task force, led by Industry Minister Akanat Promphan, joined forces with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to raid a supermarket in Yaowarat. The operation was part of an intensified crackdown on unsafe goods in Bangkok.
The supermarket, identified as Heng Heng Supermarket, was found selling over 50,000 illegal health-related products, mostly imported from China without proper authorisation. This is not the first time the supermarket has been prosecuted, as it has already been prosecuted three times for mislabelling offences.
Meanwhile, two warehouses in Bang Khun Thian district were inspected, linked to key smuggling operations. The first warehouse, operated by HS 138 Co Ltd, contained 42,263 items lacking TISI certification or bearing fake QR codes. The second warehouse, run by DS Tools Co Ltd, housed over 600,000 pieces of goods failing to meet safety standards or carrying fake certification marks. In total, 642,000 pieces valued at over 10 million baht were seized.
Substandard goods pose grave risks such as electrical fires and toxic contamination, while also undermining fair competition, according to Minister Akanat. The seized goods have been handed over to CPPD investigators for legal action.
The government has shown a zero-tolerance stance on hazardous goods and its commitment to safeguarding consumers. To strengthen laws, the ministry plans to deploy TISI Watch scanning technology and tighten inspections at the source. The DSI is treating the case as a special investigation, aiming to dismantle the wider smuggling network.
The Food and Drug Administration deputy secretary-general, Withid Srisuriyachai, has ordered nationwide inspections to verify the legality of products before sale. The operation underlines the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of goods available to the public.
The Team Sud Soi task force, in collaboration with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), raided Heng Heng Supermarket in Yaowarat as part of a crackdown on unsafe goods. Heng Heng Supermarket was revealed to be selling over 50,000 illegally imported health-related products. The government, led by Industry Minister Akanat Promphan, views substandard goods as posing grave risks, undermining fair competition, and is taking a zero-tolerance stance on such hazardous goods. To ensure product legality, the Food and Drug Administration has initiated nationwide inspections, reinforcing the government's commitment to the safety and quality of goods for public consumption. This incident in the business and lifestyle sector also emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards in the health-and-wellness, food-and-drink, and medical-conditions industries.
