The first batch of seven celebrities will be summoned for questioning over their involvement in substandard cosmetics and weight loss products procured by Magic Skin Co.
The seven are Sarunrat "Lydia" Visutthithada, Ungsumalin "Patty" Sirapatsakmetha, Chutavuth "Mark" Pattarakampol, Apissada "Ice" Kreurkongka, Virithipa "VJ Woonsen" Pakdeeprasong, Puttichai "DJ Put" Kasetsin and Ornapha "Ma" Krisadee.
The list was submitted to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tuesday.
They are among 56 actors, actresses and social media influencers who were allegedly paid to review and promote fake skincare and weight loss products sold online.
According to police, they could face a charge of presenting advertisements which exploit consumers which carries a prison term of up to three years and a maximum fine of 300,000 baht.
They could also be charged with exaggerating products' benefits to consumers which holds a similar penalty as well as advertising products' benefits for commercial purposes without FDA permission which carries a fine of 5,000 baht.
The move comes after police on Sunday raided a factory in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district which was allegedly linked to eight suspects arrested the day before 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 FDA certificate or the wrong certificate.
Also Tuesday, a joint force of police and FDA officials, led by deputy national police chief Wirachai Songmetta, raided POS Cosmetics (Thailand), a cosmetics manufacturer in Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon.
The company was among five firms which allegedly produced the alleged products for Magic Skin Co.
The firm was originally registered to Kasit Worachington, one of the eight suspects. The company's ownership was later transferred to Apiwat Phatthananukul.
An official presents an unidentified liquid material used in producing fake skincare and weight loss products. photos by Pornprom Satrabhaya