Samut Prakan’s Illicit Beverage Operation Shutdown: Crackdown on Ketamine-Infused Drinks

In an enthralling tale of intrigue and enforcement, the law enforcement squads of Thailand recently descended upon a rather peculiar establishment in the province of Samut Prakan. Tasked with ensuring public safety, these dedicated officers joined forces with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a mission that ultimately led to the shuttering of an illegal ketamine-infused beverage operation. Not your run-of-the-mill bust, this one unveiled a smorgasbord of 13 tantalizing flavors blended with a sugary syrup that would’ve surely Cinderella-ed your taste buds into the wee hours. The operation culminated in the confiscation of over 2,000 tantalizing concoctions, valued at a staggering 250,000 baht or, for our dollar-inclined friends, a cool US$7,650.

As the clock struck 4pm on July 8—an otherwise quiet afternoon marked by a gentle sun—the head honcho of Division 4 of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), Police Colonel Weerapong Khlaitong, along with Doctor Witit Srisachaiyakul, the Deputy Secretary of the FDA, knocked vigorously on the doors of enforcement at a nondescript commercial establishment nestled in the quaint-named Nai Khlong Bang Pla Kot subdistrict, situated within the Phra Samut Chedi district. Upon entry, the officials were greeted with the obligatory feigned surprise and ersatz hospitality by one Note, the self-proclaimed caretaker, who could not manage to charm his way out of the ensuing scrutiny.

Once inside, a veritable treasure trove of questionable substances awaited them. On display were 2,445 bottles of syrupy kratom juice, each more suspicious than the last, an impressive collection of 58 dubious pharmaceutical items, and 36 other products, all compactly valued at 250,000 baht. Such was the extent of their bounty that these findings necessitated immediate seizure and legal action, leaving no room for second guessing.

Col. Weerapong, a man of steely resolve and sharp wit, lamented that as the pressures of enforcement steadily climbed, sellers had resorted to ever more creative disguises—masquerading narcotics as wholesome fruit juices or syrupy concoctions meant for other innocuous guises. Yet, as these crafty businesses burrow further underground, the vigilance of the authorities has risen exponentially, cementing their commitment to protecting unsuspecting consumers from clandestine draconians. The recent operation unveiled a production nexus where kratom mingled illicitly with fruity solace, a practice surely beyond the pale of Food Act of 1979.

While no large-scale machinery was discovered on-site, the volume and diversity of items seized bolstered confidence in prosecutors’ thoroughness, ensuring those responsible would face the full measure of the law. The manufacture of such beverages, plagued by legal deficiencies in permission and labelling, ignited considerable ire among enforcement officers. The narrative didn’t end there. Under the silent watch of Doctor Witit, the FDA reaffirmed its steadfast partnership with the CPPD and the Samut Prakan Provincial Health Office, pressing forward the battle against the malevolent alchemy, commonly recognized as 4×100. This illicit brew—kratom and syrup dancing a forbidden waltz—is a black sheep in the pantheon of approved culinary practices.

Beyond sweet syrup, there lay hidden vials containing unapproved pharmaceuticals habitually intertwined with 4×100—ingredients like cough syrup, tramadol, and antihistamines sneaking in to throw their soporific haze over would-be revelers. Much to the dismay of these aspirant alchemists, such mixtures, consumed with feverish means to induce euphoria, are illicit under the legal aegis of Thailand.

What’s most damning are the charges facing those behind this grayed market affair. The specter of unauthorized food production looms large, a gallows built of hefty fines up to 20,000 baht or a two-year sojourn behind bars. But it doesn’t end there; the sale of unapproved drugs ushers in an escalation, with penalties that include a five-year sentence riding shotgun alongside a 10,000 baht fine, showcasing just how seriously the kingdom treats such infractions.

As day ebbed into night, the chatter among officers turned to the broader context—a tapestry woven with interconnected operations, a call to vigilant action against those who hide beneath legality’s shadow. Whether from a commercial building in Samut Prakan or other hidden fronts across the archipelago, the law remains unyielding, a quiet testament to the resolve against narcotic ne’er-do-wells.