In Ayutthaya, the chief of Uthai Police Station led a joint force with immigration officers to raid a Hunan Chinese restaurant, arresting five Chinese nationals for illegal mahjong gambling and detaining eight illegal workers. Authorities are investigating financial channels and whether Thai nationals are acting as nominee shareholders holding shares on behalf of foreigners.
On 4 August 2026, Police Colonel Manat Addodorn, chief of Uthai Police Station in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, along with police officers, conducted an inspection and gathered additional evidence inside a Hunan Chinese restaurant located in Kanham Subdistrict, Uthai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The focus was on reviewing business documents, shareholder structure, and financial transactions following leads indicating possible use of Thai nationals as nominee shareholders for foreigners, which may violate the Foreign Business Act.
This inspection followed a raid on 3 August 2026, when Uthai Police, together with officers from Division 2 of the Investigation Bureau, Immigration Office, and Immigration Suppression Unit of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, searched the restaurant based on information about illegal activities occurring on the premises.
The search uncovered a secret mahjong gambling room inside the restaurant. Five Chinese nationals were arrested—one as the organizer of gambling and four as participants. Authorities seized one mahjong table, 84 plastic mahjong tiles, and 7,200 baht in cash used for gambling.
Additionally, officers pressed charges against eight foreign nationals under labor and immigration laws: two for working beyond their permitted scope, four for failing to report employer changes as required by law, and two for illegal residence and working without permits. All suspects were detained and transferred to investigators for prosecution.
Police Colonel Manat Addodorn stated that prior to the raid, officers received complaints about foreign groups operating multiple businesses in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, potentially using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders to circumvent legal restrictions. The investigation unit was ordered to continuously gather information and expand inquiries, designating this restaurant as a key target.
During the raid, authorities examined critical documents including income and expense accounts, tax records, income sources, company registration papers, shareholder lists, and share transaction documents to verify legal compliance and to determine if Thai nationals were indeed holding shares on behalf of foreigners.
The probe into nominee shareholding is ongoing, with evidence and documents being reviewed in coordination with relevant agencies. Should further violations be found, authorities will rigorously prosecute all involved parties.
The 13 suspects arrested on 3 August, including those involved in illegal gambling and foreign workers violating labor and immigration laws, have been processed legally. Meanwhile, officials continue to investigate shareholding and business operations of the restaurant in detail.