Operation Cleanup: Downtown Counterfeit Takedown - DSI & DIP Joint Taskforce

Operation Cleanup: Downtown Counterfeit Takedown

DSI & DIP Joint Taskforce - March 2026

 

           On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 02:30 p.m., at the Department of Special Investigation building, Police Lieutenant General Rutthapon Naowarat, Minister of Justice; Mr. Wutthikrai Leeveerapun, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce; Miss Rawiwan Chatupitpawn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice; Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation; Police Captain Witsanu Chimtragool, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation; Mrs. Oramon Suptaveetham, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property; Mr. Arvuddhi Wongsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property; Mr. Calvin Webb, Regional Attaché of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; and Mr. Patrick Mihoub, Customs Attaché of the Embassy of France in Thailand, jointly held an announcement regarding the operational results in advancing the suppression of economic crimes following the policies of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Commerce. These policies aim to push Thailand to be removed from the Watch List (WL) and to withdraw Thailand’s department stores from the Physical Market list, in order to strengthen confidence in the nation’s economy and trade system.   On March 12, 2026, Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, directed the Bureau of Intellectual Property to lead officers to execute the search warrants issued by the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court. The search targeted a total of 17 locations in the Bangkok area, comprising 14 outlets and 3 warehouses, focusing on 5 major trader networks.

            During the operation, the officials were able to seize counterfeit goods bearing the trademarks of luxury brands such as LOUIS VUITTON, DIOR, GOYARD, NIKE, and ADIDAS, totaling 48,945 items. The value of the seized items is over 100 million Baht, with the damage value exceeding 500 million Baht.

            According to the investigation, it was found that these networks employed “ant-army” smuggling tactics to transport counterfeit goods from neighboring countries through the Aranyaprathet Customs House in Sa Kaeo Province, utilizing closed-panel pickup trucks from private logistics companies to evade authority inspections. These pickup trucks would transport the trademark-infringing goods into the commercial district in downtown Bangkok, delivering them outside the department store in question twice daily, at 02:00 a.m. and 04:00 a.m., in order to avoid arrest by the officers. The counterfeit goods would then be transferred to small tuk-tuks to be delivered to the outlets and warehouses inside the department store.   Over the past 3 years, the Department of Special Investigation has successfully prosecuted over 40 intellectual property infringement cases, seizing a total of over 1.8 million counterfeit items with an estimated damage value exceeding 655 million Baht. These results reflect the agency’s efficiency in law enforcement and proactive suppression efforts.

            The Department of Special Investigation reaffirms its commitment to continuously combating wrongful acts in order to elevate the nation’s intellectual property protection standards and support the goal of removing Thailand from the Watch List (WL) and Physical Market list according to the USTR report.

            The Department of Special Investigation requests cooperation from entrepreneurs and citizens to refrain from supporting intellectual property infringing products. If you encounter any intellectual property infringement, you can report tips to the Department of Special Investigation via the DSI hotline no. 1202 (toll-free nationwide).