BANGKOK, Thailand — A 36-year-old Thai man, Thanawat, was apprehended by immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 25 after attempting to flee the country in connection with a massive scam involving counterfeit luxury brand bags. Thanawat is accused of defrauding numerous individuals out of more than 100 million baht through the sale of fake designer bags.
Thanawat’s arrest came after an investigation by the Thonglor Police Station, which had gathered substantial evidence linking him to the fraudulent sales. An arrest warrant was issued by the South Bangkok District Court on November 22, and after it was discovered that Thanawat planned to escape via the airport, authorities acted swiftly.
As Thanawat approached the check-in counter at Suvarnabhumi Airport, immigration officers were alerted by a flagged warning in the system, which led to his immediate detention.
Ongoing Investigation into Fraud
Thonglor Police Station Superintendent Pantasa Amrapithak confirmed the arrest, stating that multiple victims had filed complaints against Thanawat for defrauding them through the sale of counterfeit luxury bags. Further investigation revealed that additional complaints had been filed at Lumpini Police Station related to bounced cheques, with damages totaling 70 million baht.
The police successfully secured an arrest warrant for Thanawat after the court reviewed the evidence and determined there was enough cause to charge him with fraud.
Related Incident Involving Luxury Watch
In a separate but related incident, a Mexican tourist in Phuket returned a luxury watch worth 200,000 baht to its rightful owner after mistakenly taking it from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, believing it belonged to a family member.
Thanawat’s arrest marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts by Thai authorities to crack down on fraud and counterfeit goods, particularly those that exploit unsuspecting consumers. The investigation into his activities is still underway, and authorities are bringing him in for further questioning.