Pattaya News – “Authorities Conduct Raid on Grocery Store Selling ‘4×100’ Kratom Drinks, Arrest Owner and Seize Evidence in Banglamung District”

BANGLAMUNG, Chonburi – Officials from Banglamung District Administration have intensified crackdowns on illegal activities following repeated public complaints, leading to the arrest of a grocery store owner accused of openly selling “4×100” kratom drinks, a potent mixture of boiled kratom leaves blended with cough syrup.

The operation was prompted by reports submitted through the Bang Lamung District Damrongtham Center, where residents alleged that a seemingly ordinary grocery store in the community was secretly serving as a distribution point for the illegal concoction. The drinks, popularly known as “4×100,” have been linked to gatherings of teenagers, causing public nuisance, safety concerns, and disruption in the neighborhood. Kratom itself is decriminalized since 2022 in Thailand as a leaf and often chewed on or used in tea traditionally to give an effect similar to caffeine, however, combining it with other liquids to form usually more powerful and intoxicating drinks to be sold without proper Thai FDA licenses is illegal.

In response, Mr. Anusak Piriyamorn, District Chief of Bang Lamung, ordered Mr. Kamphai Laosae, Deputy District Chief for Security Affairs, to lead a special rapid-response team of district administration officers to investigate and take action.

Investigators identified the location as “Mae Mae Luk Luk” grocery store, Moo 10 inside Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 35.

Upon arrival, officers observed a single-story house operating as a typical convenience store with no obvious signs of wrongdoing from the outside. However, a group of teenagers was openly sitting in front of the shop consuming kratom drinks, and there were clear indications that the beverage was being sold to customers without restraint.

The team immediately identified themselves and conducted a search. They detained Mr. Amor, 33, who admitted to being the owner of the store.

During the inspection of the premises and surrounding areas, authorities discovered extensive evidence of illegal activity. They found equipment used for boiling kratom leaves mixed with cough syrup in the “4×100” formula. Numerous bottles of the prepared kratom drink were concealed inside the refrigerator and ice buckets within the shop. Additionally, several bottles of cough syrup, believed to be used as a key ingredient, were hidden in a storage room at the back of the property.

All seized items were cataloged as evidence.

Mr. Amor and the confiscated goods were taken into custody and transferred to Pattaya City Police Station for further legal proceedings. He faces charges of illegally producing and selling kratom drinks mixed with cough medicine, along with any other related offenses under Thai law.

Banglamung District Administration officials issued a strong warning to anyone still involved in the production, sale, or distribution of “4×100” kratom drinks. They said that district authorities, in close coordination with police, will continue strict enforcement and crackdowns. Any violations will be met with decisive legal action with no leniency, in order to restore peace, safety, and quality of life for residents across Banglamung District.