Illegal elephant pants from China seized at Bangkok warehouse

[snoop1130]

 

Economic Crime Suppression Division officers swooped on a warehouse in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok and seized 30,000 elephant pants valued at over 6 million baht. The pants were imported from China without paying taxes.

 

Acting on a tip-off regarding the tax evasion associated with the imported elephant pants from China, officers conducted the raid on the warehouse in Bangkok. The pants were intended for distribution to customers who purchased them through various online platforms.

 

Officers highlighted that the elephant pants, creatively crafted by Thai artisans, are popular among foreign tourists visiting Thailand. Therefore, the illicit importation of these pants not only affects the country’s revenue but also infringes upon the intellectual property rights of Thai citizens.

 

According to a report by MGR Online, officers confiscated over 30,000 of these products from the warehouse, with a cumulative value exceeding 6 million baht.

 

Officers issued a demand to the importer of the products, whose identity remained undisclosed, to settle the requisite taxes and furnish evidence of payment. Non-compliance would lead to legal charges being brought against them.

 

The Thai government champions elephant pants as one of Thailand’s soft power assets. It aims to boost income for local vendors and the country at large. However, Thai vendors have expressed dissent.

 

Recent reports from various Thai media outlets reveal elephant pants imported from China outsold their Thai counterparts, primarily due to their lower price. Consequently, the popularity of these pants fails to translate into benefits for locals unless the Thai government takes measures to regulate the import and online sale of such products.

 

Nevertheless, elephant pants inspire local designers in Thailand, leading to the emergence of signature pants from various provinces across the country. Each province adds its uniqueness to the pattern of the pants.

 

For example, Nakhon Ratcharima province, also known as Korat, introduced its Korat cat pants, Prachuap Khiri Khan offers shell pants, Uthai Thani presents giant gourami pants, Samut Sakhon showcases fiddler crab pants, Phitsanulok features fighting cock pants, Nan provides whisper of love pants, and Lop Buri brings its naughty monkey to the pant pattern.

 

Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri also joined the trend by launching the capybara pants, which quickly sold out on their first day of release.

The investigation is ongoing and, as of now, the Thai police have not yet provided an update on the case.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Caption: Photo via Facebook/ ตำรวจสอบสวนกลาง

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-18

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

[transam]

They've got upside down elephants on, is that normal.....?

[bg53]

The headline would be more exciting with no pants.

[NoDisplayName]

35 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

According to a report by MGR Online, officers confiscated over 30,000 of these products from the warehouse, with a cumulative value exceeding 6 million baht.

 

Somebody is overcharging.

 

Elephant pants available thru Alibaba for 35 baht/pair for orders >1000 pieces.  (plus shipping)

 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/New-Lady-Summer-Casual-Pants-Southeast_1601004703962.html

[still kicking]

But pants with swastikas are OK?

[Woof999]

Tim Newton is gonna love this story.

[PoorSucker]

You should not force elephants to wear pants

[Celsius]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

infringes upon the intellectual property rights of Thai citizens.

 

Seriously? 

[jacko45k]

They do right making them illegal. The tourists that wear them should be too!

[Grusa]

 

"Will I look good in these?" says the A nut in look-alike cop.

 

As half the elephants go *its up  laughing!

Edited March 19 by Grusa

[zhounan]

When they find out that it is not only this <deleted>ty pants that come from China who knows what they will do 😂

[ryandb]

never worn a pair but somehow I suspect Thailand doesn't own the IP/trademark on these and lets not pretend like they care about knock off goods anyways, this was only about the tax evasion

[Purdey]

Counterfeiting has been going on for centuries. People used to wait at the docks in America to get the latest Charles Dickens novel then produce counterfeit copies. It does go down as laws become stronger. 

[khunjeff]

17 hours ago, transam said:

They've got upside down elephants on, is that normal.....?

 

There are hundreds of different designs out there, but yes, virtually all of them include elephants in both directions (as in the photo) to make the sewing easier - the design is the same regardless of how you orient the fabric.

[Burma Bill]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

seized 30,000 elephant pants valued at over 6 million baht. The pants were imported from China without paying taxes.

 

Well I never!!