Actually, from my personal experience, in Bangkok it has never been easier to buy high end reps. During/after the pandemic the sales ramped up, even more than before. Besides the usual low-end reps, you’ll find a pretty good selection of high end reps from the known factories in Bangkok, especially MBK Center. Prices are relatively fair, +- the same like ordering from TDs incl. shipping. Picked up nice watches during the last 24 months there.. Frequent Traveller to Thailand here, multiple times per year, since more than 12 years.Even in places where us Westerners may think it's easy (and at some point it reportedly was), like in Bangkok for example, times have changed and - be it due to increased scrutiny from authorities, or whatever
But of course, this must not apply to other international cities around the globe.