Surat Thani reports 2,600-plus criminal cases involving foreigners

Surat Thani officials said on May 10 that more than 2,600 criminal cases involving foreign nationals were recorded over the previous seven months, with enforcement centered on Koh Phangan and broader comparisons showing more than 3,200 such cases in Phuket. Governor Jumphote Wannachatsiri chaired the provincial review meeting at Surat Thani provincial hall alongside three deputy governors and senior military, police and security officials.

Task force targets land, business and nominee investigations

Authorities said a special task force set up on April 27, 2026, has concentrated on Koh Phangan, where investigators are examining land ownership, business operations and nominee arrangements used to bypass Thai legal restrictions.

Jumphote ordered district chiefs and relevant agencies to consider suspending or closing businesses that have already been prosecuted until they pass legal review and gain approval. Officials said the campaign is intended to protect public order and support confidence in the tourism sector.

Myanmar nationals led the case totals

From Oct. 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, police and other agencies handled 122 cases of illegal entry and unauthorized residence, along with five cases involving concealment or assistance to offenders.

The largest number of offenders were from Myanmar, at 1,103, followed by Russia with 316, Israel with 179, France with 155 and the United Kingdom with 143.

German nationals accounted for 116 cases, Laos 87, China 49, Cambodia 37 and India eight. Another 410 cases involved other nationalities.

Source: https://thephuketexpress.com/2026/05/12/foreign-nationals-face-over-2600-criminal-cases-in-koh-phangan-and-surat-thani-in-past-seven-months/