Vendors caught with B500k in fakes

KARON: Police raided shops and stalls in Patong and Karon yesterday and seized 6,300 fake brand-name items with a street value of more than 500,000 baht. Seven vendors admitted selling imitation goods. The officers in the raid, from Chalong Police Station, were accompanied by Suparerk Tohwatcharakul and other officials from Bangkok, who were acting on behalf of Christian Dior and Nike. During the three hours of checking, the biggest seizure came at a store in Karon, where officers found 5,000 items, including shirts and other clothing, shoes, spectacles, bags and purses. Pol Maj Jessada Sangsuree, Inspector of Chalong Police Station, said, “We have been cooperating with K. Suparerk to inspect two areas, Soi Bangla and Karon Circle, where there had been complaints that imitation goods were being sold.” Five vendors in Soi Bangla and two in Karon admitted infringing trademark and copyright laws and now face fines of up to 400,000 baht or four years in jail, or both.