DSI probes 19 companies for illegal nominee structures after naturalized expat is stripped of Thai citizenship

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Department of Provincial Administration are scrutinizing 19 companies linked to Joseph Haim Kantor, a prominent religious leader whose Thai citizenship was recently revoked.

According to Khaosod (in Thai), authorities warned that if these companies are found to have foreign shareholdings exceeding legal limits, they will be classified as illegal nominees. Any assets held by these entities will be frozen and seized. Kantor lost his naturalized Thai citizenship after authorities discovered he used a US passport for 16 trips to Australia, violating dual-nationality rules, according to The Phuket Express.

A nationwide sweep on property nominees

This high-profile probe is not an isolated incident. Over the past week, authorities have launched coordinated strikes against suspected nominee structures across Thailand's major tourist hubs.

• In Pattaya, police raided 12 companies suspected of facilitating an 800-million-baht foreign land nominee scheme, according to the Chiang Rai Times.
• In Phuket, immigration officers arrested a Chinese national accused of using Thai proxies to run an unauthorized 50-million-baht luxury villa rental business.
• In Krabi, local officials launched "Operation Nominee Crackdown," specifically targeting foreign-owned businesses using Thai proxies in the Ao Nang area.

What this means for you

For expats living in Thailand, the era of authorities turning a blind eye to legally gray company structures is ending. If you hold property or operate a business through a Thai company where local shareholders do not have genuine financial involvement or voting power, your assets are at risk.

You should immediately review your company structure to ensure all Thai shareholders have legitimate proof of funds and active involvement. Furthermore, a recent Supreme Court ruling has cast doubt on the long-term security of 30-year lease agreements, which are a common alternative to nominee companies for foreign property control.

Finally, if you are a naturalized Thai citizen, using a foreign passport to enter or exit other countries can trigger citizenship revocation, as demonstrated by the Kantor case.