Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raided an unlicensed facility in Bangkok, revealing soap products made from scraps collected from various factories.
Investigation Sparks Raid
The Consumer Protection Police Division initiated the probe after consumers reported allergic reactions and health issues from cosmetic items sold online. Investigators targeted a residence in Bang Khae district, where operators produced and distributed soaps via e-commerce sites at bargain prices.
Advertisements promoted the products with bold claims, stating they contained ‘100% herbs,’ killed germs, removed dead skin, controlled oily skin, and treated pimples, freckles, and dark spots.
Facility Details and Operator
The raid focused on a property in Soi Phutthamonthon 2, Bang Khae, converted into a makeshift soap production site. A 45-year-old Thai woman named Nongnart identified herself as the business owner.
She could not provide a manufacturing license or legal documents and confessed to running the operation without approval. Nongnart explained that she dropped out after high school and began by reselling wholesale soaps online. Demand surged, but her supplier could no longer meet orders due to rising costs.
She then learned production techniques from YouTube tutorials and started making soaps herself.
Production Process Exposed
Investigators found she bought soap scraps from factories in Bangkok and nearby provinces for 30 to 40 baht per kilogram. These were processed into bars in 12 different fragrances, sold online for 4 to 10 baht each.
For liquid soaps, she mixed the scraps with saltwater and fragrances before bottling. The site produced about 1,000 bars daily, handling 800 to 900 orders per day and generating around 50,000 baht monthly since starting last year.
Charges and Ongoing Tests
Authorities charged Nongnart under Thailand’s Cosmetic Act for producing and selling counterfeit and unregistered cosmetics. Police plan laboratory tests on the seized items and ingredients, with potential additional charges if harmful substances are detected.
