"Big Rarn - Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin" led the force to launch an operation. "Phase 6 Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks." Raided illegal pool villas in Hua Hin, discovering 33 companies suspected of holding land on behalf of foreigners, with damages over 300 million baht.
On 10 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Police General Samran Nuanma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, ordered Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin Poolsawat, Commander of the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Police Lieutenant General Phisit Tanprasert, Commander of Region 7 Police, Police Major General Kan Thammakasem, Commander of the Investigation Division of Region 7 Police, Police Major General Chomchawin Purathananon, Deputy Commander of Region 7 Police, and Police Major General Athorn Chinthong, Commander of Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Police, together with the Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, officials from the Department of Business Development and the Land Department, mobilized over 200 officers to launch the "Phase 6 Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks" targeting illegal pool villas in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Warrants were issued for 45 foreign suspects and summonses for 39 Thais. Fifteen locations were searched, resulting in 13 arrests: 3 British, 1 Italian, 4 Chinese, 1 French, 1 Dutch, 1 Austrian, 1 Filipino, and 1 American.
The search targeted modern-style single houses and pool villas in Thap Tai Subdistrict, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, priced around 10 to 20 million baht each. In-depth investigation found six companies using Thai nominees to hold shares on behalf of foreigners for these properties: four companies in Phase 1 and two in Phase 2 of the project.
Foreign individuals interviewed stated they wanted to own property and were advised by law and accounting firms to establish companies to hold real estate in Thailand, believing this was legal ownership. These companies did not conduct any business. Thai shareholders named in the companies admitted they held shares on behalf of foreigners, never paid for shares, never managed the companies, and had never seen financial documents or shareholding evidence. This arrangement was intended to allow foreigners to conceal ownership of real estate.
Police seized company registration documents, accounting records, computers, mobile phones, and electronic data to trace financial flows and expand investigations to related individuals or networks both domestically and abroad.
Previously, the police conducted five phases of nominee network crackdowns covering six key tourist provinces: Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Chonburi. They examined a total of 233 land parcels covering over 160 rai, with an estimated value of about 2.539 billion baht. Courts approved 133 warrants, and 20 cases have resulted in convictions.
The Royal Thai Police confirmed it will continue expanding efforts against nominee networks and foreign capital groups engaged in illegal business activities in tourist areas nationwide, including investigating government officials possibly involved in corruption or aiding offenders. Citizens with information on foreign capital wrongdoing can contact local police stations or the Royal Thai Police hotline at 1599, available 24 hours.