Chatchana, a member of the Democrat Party from Nakhon Si Thammarat and the chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, collaborated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the officials from the Consumer Protection and Crime Suppression Division to conduct a multi-agency raid along RCA Ratchadaphisek Road in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok.
The majority of the shops in this area are Chinese restaurants and stores selling imported Chinese goods.
The operation was initiated based on police reports that some shops in the area were linked to telecommunication fraud gangs based in Poipet and Sathon, Cambodia. Chatchana noted that telecommunication fraud is increasingly rampant in Thailand and closely connected to China's grey industry.
He proposed that this issue be elevated to the national agenda to implement more effective measures.
During the raid, Chatchana also suggested investigating a Chinese supermarket chain with branches across Thailand, which was found to sell some products without FDA approval, urging the Bangkok FDA and police to conduct further inspections.
Additionally, the committee conducted a surprise inspection of a bar similar to a KTV, where drug use was detected.
Chatchana urged the Royal Thai Police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to strictly combat such illegal activities, emphasizing that if personnel from China's grey industry engage in fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion in Thailand, it would severely impact Thai society. He requested that the departments adhere to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's policy to decisively combat the grey industry.
Subsequently, the investigation team also inspected three skewer shops on RCA Ratchadaphisek Road. Although the staff had legal work permits, it was discovered that two of the shops lacked fire extinguishers, and many seasonings and beverages were imported from China without Thai FDA approval, potentially posing a threat to Thailand's economic interests.
The committee called for corrective measures from the relevant departments.
The investigation also revealed that some Chinese supermarkets seemed to have been forewarned about the raid and had temporarily ceased operations. Chatchana hoped that the FDA would conduct follow-up inspections on these stores and urged the RCA Ratchadaphisek district management to enhance supervision to prevent further escalation of the issues.
