A group of Thai policemen became unlikely internet sensations for their resemblance to Taiwanese boy band F4.

The cops from Buriram, northeast Thailand, became an online hit after the Lamduan Police Station posted a photo of them posing behind a drugs suspect.

Posted on July 18, the picture had a filter applied that gave the officers long, flowing locks, drawing comparisons to the beloved early-2000s Taiwanese group.

Police Corporal Aphiwat Churat, 28, who was among the officers featured, said the post with its pickup line caption was intended as an anti-drug message aimed at Thai youths.

He said: 'We used the filter and captions to make a message about the dangers of drugs more appealing to the younger generation. None of us knew it would become so popular. I did not even know what F4 was until I searched online.'

The policeman added that the intention was not to make fun of the suspects, but to show the negative impact of drugs on one's life.

The other officers were identified as Police Sergeant Sarawut Manorat, Police Lance Corporal Purachet Pinthongkhunawat, and Police Lance Corporal Jakkapoom Plianram.

Flower Four or F4 was a Taiwanese boy band formed in 2001, consisting of Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Ken Chu, and Vic Chou. The group was originally created following their roles in the TV drama Meteor Garden, which was a massive hit in Asia.

The group released albums and toured internationally before disbanding in 2009.