Foreign shareholders linked to 34.59% of Phuket’s registered firms
Officials say 11,078 of Phuket’s 32,024 registered legal entities have foreign shareholdings, while authorities are investigating higher-risk sectors and expanding islandwide surveillance.
Foreign shareholders have stakes in 11,078 of Phuket’s 32,024 registered legal entities, accounting for 34.59% of all registered firms, officials told a provincial meeting on 23 July 2026.
The figures were presented at the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Police Administration Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, chaired by Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters. The companies have a combined registered capital of B240.6 billion.
Phuket Town has the largest number of companies with foreign shareholdings, at 6,073, followed by Thalang with 2,670 and Kathu with 2,335.
Russian investors account for the largest number of foreign-owned companies, with 2,412 entities. They are followed by investors from the United Kingdom with 1,237 companies, China with 1,221, France with 1,184 and Australia with 541.
Authorities identified 6,682 businesses operating in sectors considered at higher risk of nominee arrangements or other illegal activity. These include 4,249 accommodation and real estate companies, 1,772 tourism businesses, 362 hotels and resorts, 175 construction firms, 105 e-commerce, retail and wholesale businesses, and 19 agricultural enterprises.
Officials also reported the arrest of 39 foreigners for illegally owning land. The group comprised 30 Russian nationals and nine Israelis. Authorities recorded 28 cases involving encroachment on protected forest and public land in Patong, Karon and Cherng Talay.
Governor Chotinrin instructed agencies to continue implementing government policies covering five key development areas and nine priority issues, including drug suppression, action against crime and influential figures, public safety, tourism and economic growth, and residents’ quality of life.
He highlighted the Phuket Eye smart surveillance project. Its first phase has integrated 736 CCTV cameras into a central monitoring system, including 233 existing cameras from government agencies, three municipalities and private-sector partners, and 503 new high-resolution cameras installed across Phuket’s three districts.
Officials are seeking government funding for a second phase to expand camera coverage throughout the province. The committee also examined the potential use of drones for security operations, search and rescue, traffic management and monitoring high-risk areas alongside the Phuket Eye network.
Police reported that, between 1 October 2025 and 15 July 2026, they handled 1,263 serious drug cases, 38 cases involving conspiracy or assisting drug offences, and four money-laundering cases linked to drug trafficking. Authorities seized assets worth B42.16 million during the operations.
The figures were reviewed as part of the government’s “90 Days Against Drugs” campaign. Governor Chotinrin said drug suppression required cooperation among police, local authorities, public health agencies, schools and community organisations, with equal emphasis on prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and public education.
