Thai police seize $1m in fake perfumes and cosmetics

Police in Thailand have seized counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics with a value of almost $1m.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) captured the fakes in raids on three houses and a shop in central Thailand, the Bangkok Post reports. Copies of local and global brands, including Lancome, Clinique, Dior, Gucci and Chanel, were found among the 35,000 fake products.

Police have linked the counterfeits to a man who allegedly sold them through two websites. Both the sites are now failing to load properly, with one saying in Thai that it is temporarily closed for maintenance. The websites reportedly had up to 5m visitors before the police intervened.

Local newspaper The Nation reports the fakes were manufactured at plants in Pathum Thani and Bangkok. Police want to tackle the problem at the source to cut the spread of counterfeits and improve the reputation of cosmetics and perfumes bought in Thailand.