Phuket police seize counterfeit goods worth B3 million

[webfact]

Phuket police seize counterfeit goods worth B3 million


The police, the arrested men, and a rather large pile of counterfeit bags.

Phuket: -- Yesterday afternoon (February 3), in a joint operation between police from Sub-Division 4, Economic Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok (ECSD4) and Patong police, about 3,000 counterfeit goods were seized during raids on three shops in Patong.

The haul, said to be worth about B3 million, included 1,000 items of clothing, 451 watches and 1,500 bags. They were seized from storage areas behind shops in SB Plaza, Taweewong Rd, and Bangla Rd.

Along with seizing the goods, police also arrested four men, two Thais and two Burmese, however, a fifth man managed to escape arrest. The four were named as Bobbie Kiri (Thai), 50, Jakkrapong Koliyanon (Thai), 32, Tutu (Myanmar), 25, and Iram Ji (Myanmar), 30.

Patong Superintendent Col Chaiwat Ouikam said, “All of these counterfeit goods, as well as drugs and illegal firearms must disappear from Patong. We already target these things, however, we need to be sure before making any arrests.”

The superintendent of ECSD4, Col Teera Thongrayab, explained to The Phuket News how police had sent undercover officers to find out information prior to the raids, "Sometimes we can send new officers to pretend to be customers as no one knows that they are police.

“The officers then find that shops selling fashion products will possibly have counterfeit goods at storage areas behind the shop. If customers ask about buying those products, sales people will bring them into the storage area,” he said.

Police have confirmed that raids like those yesterday will continue across Phuket.

Col Teera explained, “We were assigned to be in Phuket for seven days starting from February 2. Police need to seize all illegal products which are related to economic crimes.

“This action will continue as another team will replace us after we have gone,” he concluded.

Patong police have charged the four arrested men with selling counterfeit products under the relevant copyright laws.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-police-seize-counterfeit-goods-worth-b3-million-50871.php


-- Phuket News 2015-02-04

[clockman]

Just for show!

[trainman34014]

Surely Thai people would never do a thing like this ! Must be those pesky Burmese again.

[Patje]

Cleared 3 shops, still a couple of hundred to go !!

That will keep them busy for the next 3 years

[Userone]

From the news report, we can assume that they are only targeting counterfeit goods which require the buyer to enter into a back room. But... If they are sold openly on the street, such as the sunglass vendors, then that is o.k.

[Johnnie99]

Have they thought of visiting Silom?

[samsensam]

the story isnt how many counterfeit goods have been seized but how many street vendors, retail shops and shopping malls openly offer such goods for sale with impunity. now there's a story!

more quality thai journalism.

[xylophone]

Just for show!

Absolutely so.........now the "importer" of these goods (who says that he pays a million baht pa to the customs and BIB to let him bring these in) will be able to sell more to the shops!

Must have seen his profit slumping!

[maidee]

and later, policemen had happy wives & happy mia nois with their new free toys

[JetsetBkk]

and later, policemen had happy wives & happy mia nois with their new free toys

Dämn! Beat me to it.

[Nemesis7]

well it maybe wrong but its not the worst possible crime to sell counterfeit items comparing many other bigger issue to be solved by RTP.

Not everybody can afford to buy LV, Gucci or Prada from the High Street fasjion stores.

[Suffinator]

Phuket Police turning over their own customers ... umm.