SURAT THANI, Thailand – Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul led a delegation to the resort island of Koh Phangan on Wednesday to oversee an investigation into foreign businesses using Thai “nominees” to illegally own land and operate businesses. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Deputy Minister of Transport, and two Deputy Ministers of Interior accompanied the Prime Minister to oversee efforts in tackling foreign-owned businesses using Thai nominees. The visit focused on a specific luxury villa project, which authorities say was illegally constructed and owned by an Israeli national via a suspected front company.
During the visit, Prime Minister Anutin ordered a comprehensive probe into the firm’s shareholding structure, emphasizing that any foreign ownership of land constitutes a direct breach of national law. He noted that these offenders are often fully aware of their lack of ownership rights, yet they deliberately use Thai nominees to deceive the public and the state into believing the firms are domestic entities. To ensure accountability, the Prime Minister instructed investigators to follow the company’s financial trails to uncover the true beneficiaries behind the operation.
This high-profile inspection follows a broader police initiative titled “Cracking Down on Foreign Nominees in Koh Phangan.” To date, authorities have targeted 243 suspicious firms and identified 27 locations with irregular land ownership records. These efforts have resulted in the seizure of 37 land title deeds covering approximately 51 rai (20 acres), with an estimated value of 150 million baht. While two Thai nationals have already been arrested for allegedly facilitating these illegal shareholding schemes, a third foreign suspect remains at large.
Data from the ongoing investigation highlights the scale of the issue, revealing that of the 3,754 legal entities registered on Koh Phangan, 2,381 involve foreign shareholders. Investigators are now conducting deep-dive audits specifically on firms where foreigners hold the maximum legal limit of 49% and where Thai individuals appear as shareholders in multiple unrelated companies—a common red flag for nominee activity. In response, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Samran Nualma, has established a specialized task force to finalize the report on these illegal networks and initiate further legal action. (TNA)
