NONTHABURI - Police on Tuesday shut down a factory printing fake logos and trademarks on T-shirts for illicit retailers including those in Pratunam area of Bangkok and arrested nine people.
More than 20 officials from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) raided the factory in tambon Bang Sri Muang of Muang Nonthaburi district with a search warrant and seized about 42,000 counterfeit T-shirts, 30,000 of which were of the Adidas brand. The fake goods were worth about 40 million baht.
Other evidence seized were 60 T-shirt printing machines and 300 silkscreen frames.
Police arrested Pongpat Nuchbangpisit, 35, and his girlfriend Thanpakkanan Nankerd, who are the factory’s owners, and nine Myanmar workers.
Pol Maj Gen Chavalite Sawangpuech, deputy commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau, who was present at the raid, said the search was a result of an expanded investigation after ECD police arrested T-shirt sellers in Pratunam for copyright infringement and discovered that the contraband had been made at this factory.
Ms Thanpakkanan said she and her boyfriend started the business two years ago and most of their customers were clothes vendors at flea markets. The vendors would bring their own T-shirts and the factory printed names and logos of popular brands on them for about 50-60 baht each.