Fifty-six celebrities who endorsed allegedly substandard cosmetics and weight loss products sold online will be summoned for questioning next week, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police Wirachai Songmetta said Monday.
Police are targeting the celebrities after one of eight suspects arrested on Saturday for allegedly selling the products told police that actors, actresses and social media influencers were hired to "review" and help promote their products, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
The celebrities could face legal action if they are found to have exaggerated product benefits to consumers, he said.
The move comes after police on Sunday raided a factory in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district which was allegedly linked to the eight suspects arrested the day before.
According to police, the factory was connected to the eight suspects who sold products with the trademarks Apple Slim, Slim Milk, Snow Milk, Fern, Magic Skin, Shinoshi, Treechada and Mezzo.
Each of these products carried either a fake Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificate or the wrong certificate, police said.
Police confiscated more than 100 cartons of health supplements and cosmetic products, manufacturing equipment and tools, and product formulas for many brands.
The arrests on Saturday came after police received many complaints accusing the eight suspects of using a bogus FDA certificate to sell sub-standard skin care and weight loss products online. The group also operates a school to train people up as sales representatives.
A police source said that Wannapha Phuangson, one of the eight suspects and the owner of Magic Skin Co which sold the products, told investigators that celebrities were each hired for between 10,000-50,000 baht to "review" them.
One of them -- a famous transgender model -- reportedly told media that she did not know whether the products were substandard or fake FDA certificates were used.
Rights activist and lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet said he had received complaints against the company from more than 400 damaged parties, that included some of the firm's own sales representatives.