- By Raju Kumar
- Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
You would have heard about a 'Chor Bazaar' located in the Old Delhi area. A similar market, in fact, a whole mall - MBK Center - in Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, created news after authorities seized more than 100,000 counterfeit products worth nearly USD 1 million during a raid. The Thai authorities' action came after the mall’s inclusion in the 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.
Thai Authorities Launch Raids After US' Report
The United States Trade Representative, Oramon Sapthaweetham, director-general of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), had released a list, including the MBK Center earlier this month. The US authorities' report listed 37 online markets and 32 physical markets across 19 countries. The Bangkok mall was the only physical market in Thailand identified for high levels of intellectual property infringement.
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News18 reported that a team of Thai commerce authorities and special investigation police conducted raids at the mall on March 13, which gave a big shock to officials after spotting over 100,000 counterfeit products that had been put for sale in the popular mall. A Bloomberg report stated that shops in the mall were selling counterfeit items.
Probing officials found that a large number of fake products, including bags, shoes, clothing and other fashion goods designed to imitate well-known international brands, which violated trademarks and copyrights, were being sold in the mall. The Department of Intellectual Property shared photos, showing officials packing the seized goods into dozens of large boxes and rubbish bags.
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The busting of the fake products' selling point exposed the vulnerability of consumers, especially tourists from India. Tourism is a major pillar of Thailand's economy, as it contributes 12 per cent of the country’s GDP.