Assistant national police chief Pol Lt- General Suwira Songmettha led a team of 300 security officials in the search of various targeted locations.

The search at a commercial building in Tambon Pa Rai found pirated tactical gear and clothing worth Bt10 million, owned by a Cambodian national who supplies such products to shops at the Rong Klua Market and Greater Bangkok. During the search, Cambodian vendors and workers reportedly tried to obstruct officials, but there was no violence, so the area was sealed off.

Other locations were warehouses containing second-hand goods. As of 1pm, police searched four more shops in Indochin Market and found many more counterfeit clothing. Suwira said police would proceed the search until cover all 17 targeted locations.

Prior to the operation, Suwira told reporters that the United States Trade Representative would announce an updated Priority Watch List (PWL) on April 30, and Thailand was hoping to be removed from the list.

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Suwira noted that the International Intellectual Property Association, the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the Biotechnology Industry Organisation had reportedly proposed keeping Thailand on the list while the Business Software Alliance suggested it be in the US “Watchlist”. So, the government wanted to seriously suppress the trade in counterfeit goods because, having been on the PWL since 2007, the country had been cut off from various trade benefits.