Scent of a scam: Pattaya cops sniff out fake perfume racket
Pattaya police have bottled up a counterfeit perfume operation, nabbing two women accused of flogging dodgy designer fragrances at a local shopping centre. Officers seized 226 bottles of fake branded scents that could pose serious health risks.
The suspects, 38 year old Kanyapat and 37 year old Araya, were arrested and charged with “jointly offering for sale goods bearing counterfeit trademarks.”
The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) has been cracking down on counterfeit merchandise in Pattaya, and this latest bust is part of their ongoing efforts.
During a routine sweep on the first floor of a shopping mall, officers sniffed out the illicit operation, discovering the women peddling knock-off perfumes. Further checks confirmed the seized bottles were indeed fake.
When questioned, both women allegedly admitted they were hired by a foreigner to shift the dodgy goods. They were promptly taken into custody, along with their stash of counterfeit fragrances, and hauled off to Pattaya Police Station to face legal action.
Pattaya police are warning shoppers to be wary of cut-price perfumes that could contain harmful chemicals, urging consumers to buy only from reputable retailers, Pattaya News reported.
Meanwhile, the hunt continues for the mastermind behind this shady scent scheme.
Last year, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) swooped on 11 shops and warehouses in a prominent Bangkok shopping mall, uncovering over 20,000 counterfeit items with an estimated damage of 20 million baht.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided 11 shops and warehouses in a prominent Bangkok shopping mall, uncovering over 20,000 counterfeit items with an estimated damage of 20 million baht.
The raid, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Pheyao Thongsen, Deputy Director-General of the DSI, took place following reports of shops allegedly selling and storing counterfeit goods. The raid targeted specific locations in the Pathum Wan district, guided by 11 search warrants issued by the Intellectual Property Court.
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