The Chong Chom Customs office warned Southern Isan residents to be cautious before buying, stating that "genuine, good, and cheap products do not exist." They revealed that nearly 6,000 counterfeit items were seized over three months, with total damages exceeding 55 million baht.
On 10 May 2026, Mr. Prasit Deejongjaroen, head of Chong Chom Customs, stated that the government is seriously committed to cracking down on intellectual property violations with three main goals: protecting consumers from counterfeit goods—especially consumer products that may be harmful; ensuring fairness for businesses; and establishing a long-term economic foundation to support innovation.
Mr. Prasit added that Mr. Panthong Loykulnan, Director-General of the Customs Department, Ms. Suntareeya Tawichaprasit, Deputy Director-General, and Ms. Lalita Atthapimon, Director of Customs Region 2, have instructed Chong Chom Customs, responsible for three Southern Isan provinces—Surin, Buriram, and Nakhon Ratchasima—with a population exceeding 7 million and strong economic potential, to strictly enforce measures against undesirable goods that could affect people's livelihoods and social stability.
Mr. Prasit further explained that, due to the government's concern for the people in Southern Isan, Chong Chom Customs has been undertaking measures to "pressure, tighten, enforce, prevent, and suppress" counterfeit goods intensively and seriously. Over the three months from March to May 2026, they conducted numerous raids on warehouses and shops, seizing various goods such as cosmetics without FDA approval, perfumes, clothing, bags, counterfeit shoes, electrical appliances without Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) certification, and more—totaling nearly 6,000 items with an economic damage value exceeding 55 million baht.
"We will continue to combat these counterfeit goods relentlessly in line with government, Ministry of Finance, and Customs Department policies. We urge the public not to be deceived by prices that are too low to be true because 'genuine, good, and cheap products do not exist.' Using counterfeit or substandard products harms your quality of life and safety, as well as property. Moreover, it damages Thailand's reputation in international trade," Mr. Prasit concluded.