A Chinese man was arrested yesterday for allegedly selling counterfeit brand-name products causing damages worth 16 million baht.
Ma Shaorui was arrested at a commercial building in Soi Sakae Ngam 39/2 of Bang Khunthian district after people lodged complaints with the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) about substandard and counterfeit products purchased from him.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said police found many counterfeit products bearing brand names including 110 pairs of Gucci shoes, 150 Fila shirts, and 8,057 pairs of Off White shoes at the building.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said the suspect operated 10 shops on an online shopping platform. His products were found to be counterfeit imports from foreign countries.
Mr Ma was quoted as telling police that all the counterfeit items belonged to him and were imported from China. The man also claimed that his wife told him to distribute the products online in Thailand, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said.
The suspect faces charges of distributing counterfeit items and working without permission in the kingdom which carry a maximum term of four years in jail and a fine of up to 400,000 baht.
The seized items were sent to the Department of Intellectual Property and the brand owners, who confirmed the products were fake, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said, adding the ECD is expanding the investigation.
The ECD also warned online vendors to beware of selling counterfeit or substandard products because it damages the image of the country, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop added.