Russian woman arrested in Phuket over alleged illegal beauty clinic
Police said a 45-year-old Russian woman was arrested in Phuket after a raid on a luxury villa allegedly used as an unlicensed beauty clinic, where officers seized 130 medical items worth more than 600,000 baht.
A 45-year-old Russian woman was arrested in Phuket on June 7 after police raided a luxury villa in Thalang district that they said was allegedly being used as an illegal cosmetic clinic.
The Central Investigation Bureau said the operation, dubbed “Moscow Devil Filler”, was carried out through the Crime Suppression Division with officials from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office.
Police said medical products, supplies, equipment and devices worth more than 600,000 baht were seized from the suspect, identified only as Kristine. Officers said 32 types of items were seized, totalling 130 pieces.
According to Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak Bubphasuwan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, officers searched the house in tambon Thepkrasattri after investigators from CSD Division 5 received information that a foreigner was running an unlicensed beauty clinic offering cosmetic injection services from the property. Police said they gathered evidence and obtained a search warrant from Phuket Provincial Court before the raid. The warrant was identified as No. 107/2569.
During the raid, the Russian national identified herself as the owner of the property and cooperated with the search, police said. Officers then found a Thai woman lying on a treatment bed in a ground-floor bedroom in what appeared to be a cosmetic procedure setting.
Police said Kristine could not produce licences to operate a medical facility or a medical professional licence when questioned. According to police, she admitted the premises were not licensed as a medical facility and that she did not have a medical professional licence in Thailand. Police also said she admitted that some medicines, medical supplies, equipment and medical devices had been brought into Thailand from Russia through an airport and used to serve clients at the villa.
Authorities said the seized items included botulinum toxin, or Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers, anaesthetic, injectable collagen, lidocaine injections and nimesulide granules used for pain relief. Police also found syringes, needles, gloves, used medical waste and disposable equipment.
Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak said the suspect was initially charged with illegally operating a medical facility, selling medical devices without authorisation, selling unregistered medical devices, selling modern medicine without a licence, selling unregistered medicines, and importing drugs and medical equipment without proper registration.
Police said she denied all charges during questioning. She was handed over, along with the seized evidence, to investigators at Thalang police station for legal proceedings.
The operation was directed by Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaonanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak, and Pol Col Thanawat Hinyokhin, commander of Crime Suppression Division Subdivision 5. The arrest team was led by Pol Lt Col Thanisorn Huiwechachat.
