Phuket police urged to intensify checks on foreign nominees and scam networks
Democrat MP Chaiyachana Dechdecho called on Police Region 8 and immigration authorities to monitor nominee structures and alleged scam operations in Phuket and the Andaman region.
Police Region 8 and Thailand’s Immigration Bureau have been urged to intensify monitoring of foreign nominee arrangements and alleged scam operations in Phuket and the wider Andaman region.
Chaiyachana Dechdecho, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the Democrat Party, made the call during a visit to Phuket on 6 August 2026 to review the work of Police Region 8. The meeting was attended by Police Lt Gen Surapong Thanomchit, an assistant national police chief serving as acting commander of Police Region 8, Phuket deputy governor Suwit Phansangiam and other officials.
Chaiyachana said authorities should focus on foreign investment groups allegedly using Thai nationals as nominees, exploiting legal loopholes to hold land or operate businesses, and running scammer, call-centre and online gambling networks from Phuket and other Andaman provinces.
He said that, alongside earlier concerns about so-called “grey Chinese capital”, reports from local networks indicated that groups of Indian nationals were renting homes and accommodation in Phuket and Krabi to operate scam activities. He called for security agencies to monitor the reports closely.
Chaiyachana also raised concerns about foreign groups from Russia, Israel, China and other countries registering companies in Thailand and using shareholding structures that could conceal foreign control of businesses or property. He called on relevant agencies, particularly the Department of Business Development, to strengthen checks on shareholders and those controlling companies.
He said tackling nominee arrangements, transnational crime and scam networks would require cooperation between Police Region 8, immigration authorities and security agencies.
The meeting also received an update on a public-land encroachment case at Bang Tao Beach in Choeng Thale, Thalang district. Thalang district chief Vilailak Rueangphon reported that the Supreme Court had upheld the lower court’s ruling earlier that day, sentencing a defendant to one year in prison and fining the defendant B100,000. Other related cases remain in the judicial process.
