The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday arrested two Chinese men for smuggling and selling 20 million baht's worth of counterfeit shoes, its deputy director-general Suriya Singhakamol said yesterday.
The men smuggled approximately 160,000 pairs of shoes into Thailand, evading tax in the process, he said.
Officers from the DSI's Bureau of Intellectual Property Crime Division last Thursday searched distribution centres and warehouses believed to be storing counterfeit products.
The searches were conducted in four locations around Chinatown and the Rat Burana area in Bangkok, and one location in Sam Phran district of Nakhon Pathom.
Two Chinese nationals, Hongbin Lin and Lin Shao, were arrested as a result of the searches.
According to Mr Suriya, both men owned shops that sold counterfeit shoes.
They were believed to be selling the counterfeit footwear to tourists.
The products were seized, while Mr Lin and Mr Shao were charged with violating the Trade Mark Act of 1994 and the Customs Act of 1926, Mr Suriya said.
The two men are currently awaiting prosecution, he added. Details of their visa status were unavailable.