Phuket included in Thai crackdown on foreign nominee businesses
Phuket is among the tourism provinces targeted by a Thai campaign that has opened 60 cases linked to property valued at B1.2 billion on Koh Samui.
Phuket is among the major tourism provinces targeted by Thailand’s crackdown on foreign-linked businesses suspected of using Thai nominees to hold property and other assets, authorities said after a Koh Samui operation opened 60 cases.
The Koh Samui investigation involved 59 suspected companies and 88 individuals, including 26 Thai nationals and 62 foreigners. The cases were linked to 37 plots of land and buildings valued at about B1.2 billion. Police arrested 14 foreign nationals under warrants, including four Chinese and four British citizens.
More than 300 police and government officials took part in the operation on 15 August 2026. Koh Samui Provincial Court issued 37 search warrants.
The investigation examined 12,906 registered companies on Koh Samui. Authorities identified 8,254 with foreign shareholders and 875 with characteristics they considered potential indicators of nominee arrangements.
The campaign is being conducted in major tourism provinces, including Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Chon Buri and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Authorities said it is intended to bring foreign investment and business activity into compliance with Thai law.
The five business networks examined on Koh Samui were allegedly linked to offences including unlicensed operations, property development, fraudulent visa applications and tax avoidance.
