Thai PM inspects Phuket beach encroachment, orders crackdown on nominee firms
Thai PM inspects Phuket beach encroachment, orders crackdown on nominee firms — confirmed details at this stage for Phuket readers.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inspected beach encroachment in Phuket on May 10, 2026, focusing on public land and reserved forest areas at Bang Tao Beach and Freedom Beach. Officials said the visit reviewed renewed illegal construction on land where structures had already been demolished in 2021, after complaints from residents demanding stronger enforcement.
Bang Tao damage put at B18 million as cases proceed
Authorities have filed 3 cases over encroachment at Bang Tao Beach, where suspects allegedly built rooms, restaurants and massage shops on more than 3 rai. The damage was estimated at about B18 million.
Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization is enforcing the 1979 Building Control Act against all illegal structures in the area.
Police have also pursued 15 nominee business cases covering car rentals, restaurants and real estate. A total of 33 foreigners, mostly Russians and Chinese, were arrested on allegations including working in protected occupations, working while licenses were suspended, and involving Thai nationals as proxy shareholders.
From early 2025 through April 2026, officials recorded more than 3,218 criminal cases involving foreigners. They also logged 20,901 traffic violations for driving without a license.
Source: https://www.posttoday.com/general-news/742149
