Bangkok: Police launched the third phase of their crackdown on foreign nominee networks, conducting large-scale raids in the Andaman provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi. A total of 59 arrest warrants and 60 search warrants were executed, targeting companies and individuals suspected of using Thai nationals as nominees to conceal shareholdings, as well as those involved in illegal land ownership.
According to Thai News Agency, at 6:00 AM on June 20, 2026, at the plaza in front of the Phuket City Police Station, Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasil Phoolsawat, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Police, presided over the launch of the third phase of the operation to crack down on foreign nominee networks. Various related agencies participated in the integrated operation, including Police Region 8, Immigration Police, Land Department, local administration, Provincial Commerce Office, Provincial Employment Office, and other relevant agencies.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasilp stated that this operation was in line with the Prime Minister's policy, which instructed the Royal Thai Police to expedite the suppression and dismantling of foreign nominee networks. Previously, two phases of the operation had been completed in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province, before expanding to Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi provinces in the third phase.
This operation aimed to investigate 59 arrest warrants and 60 search warrants, divided into 29 companies in Phuket province, focusing on groups that allowed foreigners to control businesses through shareholdings using Thai nominees, as well as groups involved in land ownership.
The commander of the National Police Headquarters stated that officers had been continuously investigating for over a month before launching the operation today. They found suspicious information regarding some individuals listed as shareholders, but who only possessed certain types of social security identification, such as social security cards or state welfare cards. This may reflect limitations in their financial capacity to invest in the stated proportions.
The investigation will be conducted in collaboration with relevant agencies to trace the business structure, sources of funding, asset ownership, and connections with foreign nationals. If any wrongdoing is found, legal action will be taken.
However, after the deployment, a field survey was conducted to inspect the behavior of the target groups at various locations, especially in Patong, Kathu District. One target was businesses owned by Israelis, including hotels, restaurants, car rental services, and tour companies. The operation was led by Pol. Gen. Samran Nuanma, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police; Pol. Maj. Gen. Narongrit Dansuwan, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8; Pol. Lt. Col. Khetarat Chansilp, Deputy Governor of Phuket Province; Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police; Pol. Maj. Gen. Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul, Commander of Immigration Division 6; Mr. Thanawat Patsadaraks and Mr. Trairat Thepborirak, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Land; along with representatives from the local administration, the Department of Business Development, the Provincial Commerce Office, the Provincial Employment Office, the Provincial Land Office, and other relevant agencies.