Phuket authorities file 39 foreign land cases to police and probe 317 more in escalating nominee crackdown

Phuket officials have formally sent 39 cases of suspected illegal foreign land ownership to police investigators, with another 317 cases currently under examination.

This marks a sharp escalation in Thailand's ongoing crackdown on nominee businesses—where Thai citizens hold shares or property on behalf of foreigners to bypass foreign ownership laws. According to The Phuket Express, the enforcement campaign has also expanded to target unlicensed jet ski operators and illegal commercial enterprises across the island.

Arrests and Regional Expansion

The scrutiny is not limited to paperwork. On July 23, five hotel managers were arrested in Phuket during raids on illegal resorts led by the Deputy Interior Minister.

The following day, authorities expanded the operation to neighboring Krabi. Officials conducted surprise inspections of suspected unlicensed hotels in Ao Nang, signaling that the crackdown is widening across Thailand's major tourist hubs.

What This Means for You

If you live, invest, or run a business in Thailand, the era of officials turning a blind eye to regulatory gray areas appears to be ending.

• Property buyers: If you purchased land or a villa through a Thai company structure, ensure your corporate setup strictly complies with the Foreign Business Act. Shell companies with inactive Thai shareholders are the primary target of these probes.
• Business owners: Verify that all your licenses—from hotel operating permits to commercial registrations—are current and fully legal. Unlicensed operations are facing immediate raids and arrests.
• Visa holders: Legal infractions and public disturbances are increasingly resulting in visa cancellations. Police recently warned that Italian nationals mocking passengers on the Bangkok BTS could face visa revocation, following a similar blacklisting of a Lithuanian man in Koh Pha Ngan earlier this month.

The message from Thai authorities is clear: compliance is no longer optional. Expats relying on outdated legal workarounds should consult a qualified Thai lawyer to regularize their assets and businesses before investigators knock on their door.