The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has seized more than 2,700 bottles of fake and smuggled liquor of various brands in a raid on shops in Bangkok and arrested a suspect.
Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang, the DSI's director-general, said the raid was on Sri Wathnan shop on Siripong Road and 12 other spots nearby in the Samran Rat area of Phra Nakhon district, on Tuesday.
Of all 2,761 bottles, some were fake products while others were smuggled. With market value of 5 million baht, they were of various brands such as Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Jack Daniel's, Hennessy XO, Ballantines, along with Penfolds Bin 2 and Penfolds Bin 389 wines.
The DSI chief said the fake liquor was substandard and hazardous to health.
A man identified as Surawut Rojprasitporn, 59, was arrested on charges of violating the Trademark Act, Liquor Act and Customs Act.
Pol Col Paisit said the raid was necessary as Thailand is still on the Priority Watch List (PWL) for intellectual property violations, affecting the country's trade and investments.
The DSI is duty-bound to conduct suppression against intellectual property violations, particularly in the so-called red zones and notorious markets, he said.
Pol Col Paisit said Sri Wathnan shop had sold fake liquor and spirits smuggled from neighbouring countries for more than 30 years but it had never been raided before.
The crackdown by the DSI followed complaints from damaged parties, he said.