Police seize fake goods, arrest four

PATONG: Police from Bangkok’s Crime Suppression Division (CSD) arrested four people and seized almost 2,000 fake brand-name goods yesterday evening in raids on two warehouses and two market stalls. The warehouse raids took place in Soi Chalermsub off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, where officers arrested Somporn Keatnu, 30, of Phatthalung, and Kompetch Sae’eung, 23, of Phuket. Both claimed to be security guards. At the stalls, near McDonald’s on Thaweewong Rd, officers arrested Warawan Numuang, 22, of Loei, and Manit Pohsepor, 22, of Nonthaburi. Both claimed to be employees of the stalls’ owners. All four were taken to Kathu Police Station, where Somporn and Kompetch were charged with possession of fake copyright goods. Warawan and Manit were charged with offering fake copyright goods for sale. Both charges carry maximum penalties of four years’ jail, or a fine of 400,000 baht, or both. The CSD officers organized the raids after being tipped off by corporate private investigator Raphee Chumprapa. A tip-off by K. Raphee last month led to other CSD raids that netted more than 7,000 fake items in five Patong warehouses. Highlighting the problem of operators selling fake goods, K. Raphee told the Gazette, “Police seized about 1,800 shoes, almost 200 pairs of glasses and belt bags. If this merchandise were genuine, it would be worth about 4 million baht. “Genuine Adidas sport shoes sell for 2,000 baht per pair, but the vendors sell the imitations for only 400 to 500 baht,” he added.