Yesterday (August 17) police and soldiers raided a warehouse in Patong and seized more than 200 counterfeit goods.

A team of officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) joined the raid at the warehouse of Lanta Souvenir in Patong’s OTOP Market on Rat-Uthit 200 pi Road. 28 year old Wut Boonkanpai was present and was acting as the shop’s care taker.

Wut was taken to the Patong Police Station where he has been charged with selling counterfeit goods.

Offices seized counterfeit Nike T-shirts and hats, counterfeit Lacoste T-shirts, counterfeit Gucci T-shirts, counterfeit Under Armour T- shirts and counterfeit Billabong shorts.

A whale shark was sighted off Ao Tue in Koh Racha yesterday (August 17).

Videos and pictures posted by a personal facebook page ‘Saran Hassaya’ have been shared widely in social media.

Videos and photos were taken yesterday by female tour guide Kristsada Sukjacharee who is also a dive instructor of the ‘Blue Corner’ tour boat company and a volunteer with Go Eco Phuket Club.

Khun Kritsada says, “Yesterday we saw something similar to a white plastic item. When the boat was getting closer we thought it was a small fish. Then we saw the whale shark. It is the whale shark chasing the small fish. Everyone in the boat was very excited.”

“There are not many chances to see a whale shark as close as this. We think that it was about three metres long and looked very healthy.”

PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Saranyu Hassanai Facebook

The new Central Phuket is set to open its doors on September 10. The announcement was made at Centara Grand Beach Resort, also owned by the Central Pattana Group.

The concept of the new shopping centre, twice as big as the current Central Festival, is ‘The World Comes To Play’. The new complex will feature 20 of the world’s biggest luxury brands and three new attractions – ‘Tales of Thailand’, ‘Tribhum – the world’s first 3D walkthrough adventure park’ and ‘Aquaria – a modern format Aquarium’.

The shopping centre is also moving beyond just shopping experiences with a new ‘Star Catcher’ entertainment show which is described as an ‘innovative live performance 360 degree theatrical experience’.

Central Phuket claims its customers will be coming from a 50/50 mix – 50% domestic and 50% international visitors.

Central Pattana says the new shopping centre will help to stamp Phuket, internationally, as on of the world’s best ‘complete’ beach destinations to rival the French Riviera, Miami and Hawaii.

The Group have also announced that the new Central Phuket will be CPN’s first model for full-cycle waste reduction saying that they will have a complete system to reduce waste and separate and recycle rubbish. They say that they will be encouraging shoppers to use cloth bags and reduce the use of plastic bags.

There will be room for 4,200 cars, 4,800 motorbikes and 62 buses at the new Central Phuket

Central Pattana also announced this morning that they will be doing some major refurbishment of the current Central Festival. The two shopping centres are linked by a sky-bridge.