48 arrests made in latest southern nominee blitz

A major crackdown on illegal foreign nominee businesses in three southern provinces has resulted in the seizure of assets worth more than 1 billion baht and the arrest of 48 Thai and foreign suspects.

More than 500 officers and officials from various agencies were deployed in coordinated raids across Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi on Saturday in an operation targeting foreign-owned businesses using Thai nominees to illegally hold land.

The task force included senior police officers, provincial governors, officials from the Department of Business Development and the Department of Lands, as well as personnel from several law-enforcement agencies.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma led the operation, the third phase of a foreign nominee crackdown on the Andaman coast, starting at 6am.

Authorities searched 89 land plots covering 49 rai, with a combined value of about 1.05 billion baht

Courts had issued 59 arrest warrants — 28 for Thai nationals and 31 for foreigners. Officers executed 55 warrants, arresting 48 suspects, including 27 Thais and 21 foreign nationals. Some suspects were subject to multiple warrants.

In Phuket, investigators identified two categories of illegal land ownership under the Land Code.

The first involved 10 companies suspected of acting as nominees for foreign investors. The firms held four land plots covering more than 2 rai, valued at 116 million baht.

Police arrested nine foreign nationals, including five Israelis, two French nationals, one Dutch national and one Russian.

The second category involved 39 companies that owned land despite having foreign shareholders holding more than half of the shares. Authorities investigated 52 plots covering 12 rai worth 115 million baht. Twenty-nine search warrants were executed to gather evidence and question those involved.

The two groups controlled 56 land plots covering about 15 rai, with a total estimated value of 231 million baht, said police.

Police display a chart featuring details of the nominee crackdown operation during a briefing in Phuket on Saturday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

In Phangnga, authorities uncovered nine nominee companies holding seven land plots covering 17 rai and worth about 269 million baht.

The court approved six arrest warrants and three search warrants. Police arrested one British national linked to the network.

A key target was the Sava Beach Hotel, where authorities found seven villas were being rented out on a daily basis even though it did not have a hotel licence.

Investigators also identified a company with a foreign-majority shareholding structure holding a 9-rai plot of land. Officials from the Takua Pa land office filed a complaint against the company related to land and property assets worth 54 million baht.

As well, investigators found several Thai nationals listed as shareholders in multiple companies, apparently acting as nominees for foreign investors.

Many had social security cards but no apparent financial capacity to invest in the businesses. Some were employees or relatives of company directors who allegedly helped facilitate nominee shareholding arrangements.

In Krabi, investigators identified nine nominee companies holding 17 land plots covering 6 rai, with an estimated value of 209 million baht.

The court approved 40 arrest warrants and 13 search warrants. Police executed 39 warrants and arrested 38 suspects — 27 Thai nationals and 11 foreigners. The foreign suspects comprised six Israelis, two Polish nationals, two Swiss nationals and one South African.

Authorities also investigated eight companies with foreign-majority shareholding structures that owned eight land plots covering 8 rai, valued about 290 million baht. Six search warrants were issued to collect evidence and question those involved.

One of the most significant cases involved Tropical House Co, a property development company linked to Polish investors. The company develops pool villas in prime locations, including Nuea Khlong, Nong Thale and Khao Thong, with units starting at 11.5 million baht.

Investigators found that the company had registered capital of only 4 million baht but controlled 16 plots covering more than six rai, with an estimated value of around 200 million baht.

Although company records showed 100% Thai ownership, police alleged that the business was actually controlled by a Polish couple who used Thai nominees as shareholders.

Authorities said the crackdown would not be limited to the three southern provinces and vowed to expand investigations nationwide.

They urged members of the public to report suspicious activities involving foreign investment groups or other illegal operations to local police stations or the Royal Thai Police hotline 1599, which operates around the clock.

Related: Proxy business crackdown reaches Chiang Mai

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma speaks to reporters about the results of the operation in three southern provinces on Saturday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)