Police Bust Teenagers Making Kratom Syrup for Sale Online
CHIANG MAI — A late-night raid has exposed an illegal kratom workshop in Chiang Mai city, where seven teenagers were arrested for producing and selling the notorious drug mixture known as “4×100.”
The joint operation, led by the Region 5 Investigation Team and Chang Phueak police, targeted a commercial building on Chotana Road. Inside, officers discovered that the back of the building had been converted into a makeshift drug lab, complete with five large pots for boiling kratom leaves and batches of syrup ready for bottling.
Raids and Seizures
Police seized:
- 150 bottles of kratom-cough syrup mix
- 280 bottles of cough medicine
- 8 bags of sugar syrup
- 32 bottles of fruit-flavoured syrup
- Cooking equipment
- 5 accounting books
- 3,120 baht in cash
The teens admitted they had been producing and selling the mixture for months, earning 100 baht per bottle and moving about 200 bottles daily. Buyers reportedly included both locals and foreigners, with sales made in person and online.
What is 4×100?
The kratom-cough syrup drink, locally called “see koon roy” (4×100), is especially popular among youth in southern Thailand. It combines:
- Kratom leaves (a plant with stimulant and opioid-like effects)
- Cough syrup
- Sugary drinks or flavoured syrup
- Ice
Users report a euphoric high, but the unregulated mix is dangerous. Health effects include nausea, dizziness, constipation, seizures, heart issues, and in severe cases, death.
Though kratom was legalized in 2021 for traditional and medical use, the 4×100 mixture remains illegal due to its high addiction risk, particularly among teenagers.
Why Teens Use It
The drink surged in popularity during the 2010s in southern Thailand, driven by poverty, boredom, and cultural restrictions on alcohol in some communities. It is cheap, accessible, and social, but surveys show it can quickly lead to dependency.
Authorities estimate up to 100,000 regular users in southern Thailand, with addiction fueling crime, family breakdowns, and health emergencies.
Legal Consequences
The Chiang Mai teenagers now face multiple charges:
- Selling pharmaceutical products without a licence under the Medicine Act (up to five years in prison and/or a 10,000-baht fine).
- Producing or selling herbal products without a permit under the Herbal Product Act (up to two years in prison and/or a 200,000-baht fine).
- Selling unregistered herbal products (up to one year in prison and/or a 100,000-baht fine).
All suspects were handed over to Chang Phueak Police Station for prosecution.
Ongoing Problem
Police and health authorities continue to combat illegal kratom syrup production across Thailand. Past crackdowns have seized tens of thousands of bottles, yet the trade persists due to high demand and low production costs.
Experts argue that while law enforcement is essential, education and community programs are equally important to reduce youth dependence on 4×100 and prevent long-term health and social harm.
For those who value kratom’s traditional role in Thai culture—chewing leaves or brewing mild tea—authorities warn against mixing it with cough syrup and soda. The risks, they say, far outweigh the temporary high.
