Bangkok — Authorities will file additional money laundering charges against Pol Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal, a senior psychiatrist at Police General Hospital (PGH), who is accused of leading a widespread criminal network involved in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs.
The development comes after the arrest of six more suspects on Wednesday and the seizure of over 170,000 tablets of controlled substances, including psychotropic drugs such as Flunitrazepam, Alprazolam, Zolpidem, and Clonazepam.
Pol Maj Gen Noppasit Mitpakdee, commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s Division 1, stated that the investigation began following a tip-off from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which flagged suspicious purchases of Schedule 2 and 4 drugs by 12 medical clinics.
Dr Anchulee allegedly used her credentials to order large quantities of sedatives through FDA channels. The drugs were stored in her police accommodation in Phaya Thai district before being distributed by accomplices throughout Bangkok and nearby provinces.
Among the items seized in the latest raid were:
- 57,000 Alprazolam tablets
- 16,100 Zolpidem tablets
- 24,300 Flunitrazepam tablets
- 63,000 Clonazepam tablets
- 10,000 Clorazepate tablets
Police confirmed that seven individuals, including Dr Anchulee, have been arrested. She has been remanded in custody without bail, while investigators prepare additional charges for money laundering based on traced financial links.
Dr Anchulee has been suspended from her police duties, and the PGH has formed a disciplinary panel to investigate alleged violations of medical ethics and legal responsibilities.
According to FDA deputy secretary-general Withid Sariddeechaikool, drug orders under Dr Anchulee’s name soared from 1 million baht in 2022 to 11 million baht in 2024, with another 8 million baht worth of orders already placed in 2025. Authorities also discovered the use of names of deceased individuals to fraudulently acquire drugs—at least 370 cases have been identified so far.
Dr Anchulee faces charges of:
- Illegal distribution of Schedule 2 drugs without permission
- Conspiracy to commit a serious drug offence
- Drug trafficking
- Pending money laundering charges
The case has sent shockwaves through Thailand’s law enforcement and medical communities, raising urgent concerns about systemic abuse of pharmaceutical distribution channels by those entrusted to safeguard public health.
