KRABI, Thailand – Thai police have raided a kosher restaurant and synagogue in Krabi’s Ao Nang area, investigating potential nominee business structures, tax evasion, and smuggled goods linked to a previously deported Israeli national. The raid discovered a 601,000-baht money transfer receipt dated August 2. Investigators found the transfer was made by the wife of a former Israeli owner who was previously arrested and deported by court order.
Despite the restaurant currently being registered 100% under a Thai owner’s name, funds were allegedly still routed to Israeli individuals connected to the former management. Staff members told police that the former Israeli owner remains the actual manager and payroll provider since the establishment reopened under a new name with seven regular employees.
Investigators noted that the restaurant has stopped accepting QR code payments, relying exclusively on cash, while another Israeli man collects payments and leads religious services in a hidden synagogue inside the premises on Fridays and Saturdays. During a detailed search of the three-story building, the Director of the Krabi Customs Office confirmed that the establishment stored untaxed and uncertified goods, including nearly 100 bags of frozen chicken weighing over half a ton, snacks, and Hebrew-labeled alcoholic beverages lacking Thai regulatory labels.
Parcels discovered at the scene indicated shipments originated from “The Kosher Place Thailand Co., Ltd.” in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, with distribution points extending to Krabi and Surat Thani. Investigators are now examining whether the Bangkok firm acts as a smuggling warehouse supplying a broader network of around nine Chabad and kosher businesses across Thailand.
The Thai businessman listed as the registered owner declined an on-camera interview but stated by phone that the company was legally established, citing Krabi’s high commercial potential while denying ties to the previous Israeli investors. The landlord, a former local sub-district head, confirmed renting the building for 1,100,000 baht annually, expressing confidence that the tenant operated legally.
Authorities stated that further investigation is required to determine whether the establishment functions as an illegal nominee front. However, the case highlights regulatory loopholes in online corporate registration systems, noting that the company was registered from Chiang Mai just 20 days after the original Israeli-owned venue was shut down. (TNA)
