Police chased away by vendors during raid

Thai police are licking their wounds after an enraged mob of vendors chased them away when they tried to seize fake goods at a famous border market.

The Department of Special Investigation said 12 officers were injured Wednesday when police and French Embassy observers went to the Rong Kluea market on the border with Cambodia to seize items such as fake perfumes that violate intellectual property laws.

A DSI statement said about 400 Cambodian labourers surrounded the police and began pelting them with rocks and bottles, and pushed over a police pickup truck. It said the police were withdrawn to ease tensions.

Thailand, like much of Asia, is awash with counterfeit products ranging from cosmetics to DVDs. The market also sells second-hand goods.

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