DSI cracks down on piracy

Some of the more than 300,000 fake luxury bags confiscated by the DSI on display for the media at a warehouse in Bangkok's Lat Krabang district. Varuth Hirunyatheb
Some of the over 300, 000 fake luxury bags confiscated by the DSI displayed for the media in a warehouse in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang region. Varuth Hirunyatheb

The Division of Special Investigation (DSI) has seized 360, 000 fake goods in Nakhon Nayok province and Bang Bon region of Bangkok.

Crackdown procedures took place at twelve locations in markets in Nakhon Nayok and a Bang Beleg district warehouse, NINTENDO DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt Col Phayao Thongsen said recently.

The counterfeit goods confiscated by police in the raids are collectively believed to have a street value of about 120 million baht, this individual said.

Pol Lt Col Phayao said the DSI has been working with Satyapon & Companions Ltd, a full-service intellectual law firm, to discover key locations promoting counterfeit items.

A tip-off led the DSI to Rong Kluea and the coin marketplaces in Nakhon Nayok where 300, 000 fake items keeping expensive brand names such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Coach were confiscated.

Counterfeit goods from the Rong Kluea Market are also sold and dispersed online, Pol Lt Col Phayao mentioned.

In Bangkok, the DSI discovered more than 60, 000 fake brand-name jeans in a storage place in the Bang Bon area.

A Satyapon & Partners Ltd consultant told the press that this was the DSI’s largest seizure associated with fake items.

The fake goods are imported from a neighbouring nation, said the police, including that they were also illegally imported and avoided paying 25% import fees.

Pol Luxury touring Col Phayao said the government has pressured the importance of cracking upon counterfeit items within a bid to remove the country from an US Industry Representative watch checklist.

Being on the watchlist provides resulted in trade advantages with the US becoming suspended under the Exclusive 301 provision of the Trade Act.

This has had a negative impact on not only the economy but also the image of the nation, Pol Lt Col Phayao said.

Given this kind of situation, DSI director-general Triyarith Temahivong was instructed to control intellectual property infringements.