BANGKOK, Sept 12 (TNA) — Authorities destroyed about 10 million pirate products and vowed to continue with serious suppression.
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Deputy Commerce Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol presided over the destruction of the pirate products, the legal cases of which were finalized, at the Army Air Defense Command in Don Muang district, Bangkok.
Partners in the event included the Intellectual Property Department, the Internal Security Operations Command, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Police Office, the Customs Department and the Department of Special Investigation. Representatives of the organizations and copyright holders as well as diplomats witnessed the destruction.
The 10.62 million pirate products were seized nationwide by police and officials of the Customs Department and the Department of Special Investigation.
They included garments, bags, belts, shoes, watches, mobile phones, compact discs, eyeglasses, cosmetics, hats and blankets worth about 550 million baht. The destroyed products will later be incinerated at the Bangpoo Industrial Estate to guarantee they will never return to markets.
Some pirate products were either hazardous or substandard and thus could harm consumers.
The destruction was the last step of the suppression of pirate products in accordance with the framework of the World Trade Organization.
The government is seriously suppressing pirate products and its action also covers their online sales. (TNA)
