Phuket arrests nine foreigners as Thai authorities expand nominee land probe
Thai authorities said nine foreign suspects were arrested in Phuket and land holdings worth about 231 million baht were targeted in a phase 3 nominee crackdown, with new details identifying a searched hotel in Patong and the role of 49 companies in the probe.
Phuket authorities have arrested nine foreign suspects and moved against land holdings worth an estimated 231 million baht in a major crackdown on alleged nominee structures used to illegally acquire land.
According to the report, the Royal Thai Police have launched phase 3 of a wider Andaman-side operation targeting foreign nominee networks in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, with the Department of Business Development, the Land Department, provincial commerce offices and other agencies taking part. The investigation in Phuket found two groups of alleged offenders involving foreign nationals and Thai-registered companies.
In the first group, investigators examined four land plots covering 2 rai, 1 ngan and 50.5 square wah, or about 3,450 square meters. The Department of Business Development said 10 companies in Phuket were found to fit suspected nominee behavior in connection with those plots, which were valued at about 116 million baht. A court issued 13 arrest warrants for 12 foreign nationals. Authorities said they executed 10 of those warrants and detained nine suspects: five Israelis, two French nationals, one Dutch national and one Russian national.
Authorities said one of the searched locations in Phuket was a hotel in Patong district. The company was registered in 2019 and was described as operating hotels, resorts, condominium units and motorcycle rentals. It had also previously operated a tour business, but its tourism license was revoked over conditions related to the ratio of directors.
Investigators said Thai directors and shareholders in that Phuket company were listed as shareholders in three companies and directors in five companies. Authorities said the Thai shareholders admitted they were holding shares on behalf of Israelis. Officials also found restaurant and cannabis-shop businesses using the same location.
In the second group, authorities found 39 companies in which foreign shareholders allegedly held more than 50%. The Department of Business Development said those 39 companies were flagged for further checks over 52 land plots valued at about 115 million baht. The companies were linked to 52 land plots covering 12 rai, 2 ngan and 62.5 square wah, or about 20,250 square meters. The court approved 29 search warrants for evidence gathering and questioning.
The report said the total area under scrutiny was 15 rai and 13 square wah, or about 24,700 square meters, with a combined estimated value of 231 million baht.
Authorities also said the operation dismantled the G-Mat corporate network in Phuket. The network allegedly operated through G-Mat Co. in hotels, resorts, condominiums and motorcycle rentals, and through Aba Co. in restaurants and cannabis shops.
The case forms part of a broader effort by Thai authorities to combat illegal business activity and the use of Thai proxies to conceal foreign ownership of land and businesses.
