A 45-year-old Russian woman was arrested in Phuket on Saturday when police raided a large residence allegedly operating as an illegal cosmetic clinic.
Medical products and equipment worth over 600,000 baht were seized from the suspect, identified only as Kristine.
Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak Bubphasuwan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said officers searched a house in tambon Thepkasattri in Thalang district after receiving information that a foreigner was running an unlicensed beauty clinic in the area.
During the raid, a Russian national identified herself as the owner of the property and cooperated with the search.
In a ground-floor bedroom, officers saw a Thai woman lying on a treatment bed, apparently undergoing a cosmetic procedure.
When questioned, Ms Kristine failed to present any medical licences and admitted that some of the medicines, medical supplies and equipment had been brought into Thailand from Russia through an airport.
However, she denied operating an illegal beauty clinic or providing cosmetic injection services to clients, police said.
Thirty-two types of medical products were seized at the house, including collagen and lidocaine injections and pain-reducing nimesulide granules. Nimesulide is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve acute pain. All oral forms of nimesulide are banned and permanently withdrawn in Thailand due to reported severe risk of acute liver failure and liver damage.
They also found large bags containing syringes, needles, gloves, used medical waste and disposable equipment.
The suspect was initially charged with illegally operating a medical facility and selling unregistered medical products, Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak said.
She was handed over to investigators at Thalang police station for legal proceedings.
