The Thai government’s ongoing scrutiny of foreign business ownership has officially reached Krabi province. On July 24, 2026, a joint task force led by the Department of Business Development (DBD) and the Royal Thai Police launched an enforcement operation targeting suspected nominee companies in the southern coastal region.
According to the Thai Examiner, authorities have "hot-listed" more than 1,000 companies in Krabi for investigation. As a high-profile target within this broader sweep, officials are investigating a British national suspected of using Thai nominees to control 120 rai of land, according to a community report citing the joint operation.
This coordinated effort by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Interior, and Provincial Police Region 8 signals a continued push to root out illegal property and business structures.
What This Means for You
If you are an expat living in Thailand, this development is a clear warning that authorities are actively auditing company registries in popular tourist hubs. A "nominee" structure—where a Thai citizen holds 51% of the shares on paper but exercises no actual control or financial investment—is strictly prohibited under the Foreign Business Act.
For foreign property buyers and business owners, the stakes of an investigation are high. While the exact penalties in the Krabi cases are still unfolding, being caught operating an illegal nominee structure exposes both the foreign national and the Thai proxy to severe legal risks and the potential dismantling of the business.
Next Steps for Foreign Business Owners
If you currently hold property or operate a business through a Thai limited company, you should review your corporate structure immediately.
- Audit your shareholders: Ensure that your Thai partners are legitimate, have contributed actual capital to the business, and possess genuine voting rights.
- Seek legal counsel: If your company was set up years ago by an agency using proxy shareholders, you are at risk under this current wave of enforcement.
- Explore compliant alternatives: Consult with a qualified, independent legal professional to restructure your assets into fully compliant channels, such as long-term registered leases or Board of Investment (BOI) promoted companies.
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