BANGKOK, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thai authorities on Thursday crushed and destroyed 10 million pirate goods and vowed to continue serious suppression against counterfeit products.
The 10.62 million pirate products were seized nationwide by police and officials of the Customs Department and the Department of Special Investigation.
They included garments, bags, belts, shoes, watches, mobile phones, compact discs, eyeglasses, cosmetics, hats and blankets estimated at 550 million baht (18 million U.S. dollars).
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Deputy Commerce Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol presided over the destruction of the pirate products at the Army Air Defense Command in Bangkok.
Jurin said that the destroyed goods will be incinerated.
He also said that many pirate goods were either hazardous or substandard and thus could harm consumers.
"The destruction was the last step of the suppression of pirate products in accordance with the framework of the World Trade Organization," said Jurin.
