Police seized illegal and counterfeit goods worth 40 million baht in a series of raids in Rayong and Pathum Thani.
The seizures were disclosed Wednesday by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the representative of a company that owns the copyrights to some of the seized products, which infringed the Doraemon character license.
According to a press conference chaired by Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, most of the counterfeit items seized were sheets, duvets and other bedding.
The items come from three warehouses – two in Pluak Daeng and Rayong main districts, and one in Sam Yaek market in Pathum Thani’s main district – that were robbed on October 28.
Authorities said more than 40,000-bed linen were seized, some of which were imported, with a market value of 40 million baht.
Police were looking for individuals associated with the fake products who will be charged with possession of contraband with intent to sell and infringement of intellectual property law.
Somsak said some products were produced in the Northeast before being transported to warehouses and distributed to open-air markets for sale.
The minister added that copyright infringement is also an act of tax evasion under the DSI Act, as is money laundering. The Anti-Money Laundering Office will also investigate the matter.
Somsak said the government is working diligently to suppress intellectual property violations as Thailand has been placed on the US Trade Representative’s watch list.
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