Police raided factories manufacturing counterfeit gas cylinders in Thailand.

The Consumer Protection Police Division today stormed three locations in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces said to be selling PTT Oil gas tanks despite not being affiliated with the company.

At the Khon Kaen factory, police found 42 fake and 630 genuine PTT gas tanks, and 47 fake Thai Industrial Standard tanks. They also seized machinery and equipment believed to be used for production at a warehouse nearby.

Police said both the tank-filling factory and the warehouse belonged to the same company.

The factory owner, Wiphada, claimed to be the representative of a different gas provider unaffiliated with PTT. Police arrested her and seized the counterfeit products when she failed to provide relevant documents.

At the final location in Nakhon Ratchasima, authorities seized three fake PTT gas cylinders, 550 standard ones, and 311 expired PTT tanks. 

An employee, Patthana, also claimed the factory was operated by another gas company unrelated to PTT.

Police Major General Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division, said: 'Across the three locations, we seized 1,538 non-standard or expiring gas cylinders, 45 counterfeit PTT gas cylinders, and 4.2 million baht of equipment. The seized items were handed over to the inquiry officer of the Economic Crime Suppression Division. We will summon the company's representative to file charges.'

Under the Trademark Act, forging a registered trademark without permission or using it to mislead consumers may be punished by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to 400,000 baht. 

Under the Fuel Control Act, those who refill and sell trademarked gas cylinders without authorisation may face up to a year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. Filling expired or damaged tanks carries the same penalties.

Under the Industrial Product Standards Act, using a standard mark without proper authorisation can result in up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 1,000,000 baht.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, publishing misleading advertisements or false claims about a product is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 baht. Repeat offenders may face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 baht.