A RAID on three shops in Bangkok’s Chinatown netted over 800 high-priced knock-off luxury watches that caused more than 50 million baht damages, Naewna newspaper said this afternoon (Oct. 3).
A police team from the Central Investigation Bureau’s Economic Crime Suppression Division, accompanied by representatives from intellectual property rights defenders and trademark owners, arrested the owners of these three unnamed shops in Samphanthawong district identified as Ms. Jirat (surname withheld), 45, Mr. Chatri, 48. and Mr. Manasphan, 53.
They were charged with “possession for sale of counterfeit goods registered in the Kingdom by another person” in violation of the Trademark Act B.E. 2534 (1991) and confessed during the raid.
Seized were 809 fake designer watches of 20 brand names including TAG Heuer, Patek Philippe and Rolex with 647 found at Jirat’s shop, 130 at Chatree’s shop and 32 at Manasphan’s shop.
The police team said the suspects sold these pricy counterfeit watches for over 20,000 baht each mainly through various websites online with the buyers told that they were made of the highest quality and similar to the genuine article.
CIB said trade of fake designer watches is a widespread problem affecting the economy and international investment trust with many of these knock-off items made of low-quality materials, which may contain chemicals or metals that can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. This not only harms the buyer’s health but drains their money.
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Police raiding three shops in Chinatown where hundreds of fake luxury watches were found. Photos – Naewna
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