Amid the rapid expansion of the minimally invasive cosmetic industry, counterfeit products manufactured and sold by unscrupulous individuals have infiltrated the market, profiting illegally at the expense of consumers' beauty and health.Recently, the Food, Drug, and Environmental Crime Investigation Brigade of Donghai County Public Security Bureau in Lianyungang cracked a major counterfeit cosmetic surgery drug case supervised by the Ministry of Public Security. The case involved over 150 suspects and millions of yuan in illicit proceeds, with counterfeit drugs distributed to unlicensed clinics across 31 provinces and municipalities nationwide. Currently, 35 suspects have been apprehended, and police are actively pursuing the recovery of the counterfeit drugs.
According to police announcements, the investigation began on January 16 this year when a tipster reported a female online seller distributing botulinum toxin products labeled in foreign languages via WeChat, suspected to be counterfeit.Acting on this lead, Donghai police swiftly identified 26-year-old local resident Wang Xiuhua. A raid on her residence yielded 564 shipping labels and products containing botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid. The Donghai County Market Supervision Administration confirmed these as unapproved imported counterfeit drugs.Case materials indicate Wang Xiu Hua's "involved assets exceeded 600,000 yuan, with 300,000 yuan in illegal gains recovered." Her supplier, Peng Xiaoyu from Guangzhou, despite having only elementary education, joined over a hundred WeChat business groups and developed numerous downlines. She claimed to purchase hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin from South Korea, Japan, France, and other countries through overseas students, smuggling them into mainland China via illicit channels. She then organized large-scale sales of the smuggled drugs through her WeChat business networks.
Xiang Yong, Chief of Donghai County Public Security Bureau, stated that most of the 35 suspects currently in custody are women. The investigation has identified over 150 individuals involved nationwide, with the counterfeit drugs distributed across all 31 provinces and municipalities.
The editors of Public Health Network reiterate: Regardless of the type of cosmetic procedure, it must be performed at a legitimate medical institution. Nearly 90% of cosmetic surgery failures stem from "three illegal" practices—illegal products, unlicensed medical facilities, and non-professional practitioners. Do not gamble with your health.