The governor of Chonburi led a team to inspect pool villas suspected of Chinese nominee ownership. They found illegal operations including a group of Chinese youths hosting a laughing gas party. Authorities warned of serious enforcement and strict law application instead of tolerance.
On 3 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Narit Niramaiwong, Governor of Chonburi Province, led a team including the Chonburi Commerce Office, Bang Lamung District Administration, the Department of Lands, Chonburi Internal Security Operations Command, Ministry of Commerce, Chonburi Immigration, Chonburi Provincial Investigation Unit, Excise Department, and Pattaya City Engineering Office. With a Pattaya Provincial Court warrant, they conducted raids on five large pool villa businesses in Pattaya city and Jomtien, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, as part of the government’s crackdown on foreign capital groups using nominees to illegally hold real estate and tourism businesses.
The first warrant led the governor’s team to inspect a luxury villa in Soi Arunothai 8, Central Pattaya, Moo 9, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. It was a large pool villa estate with 15 houses, each four and a half floors high, fully equipped with amenities including swimming pools. During the inspection, Chinese customers were still using the facilities and were preparing to check out.
Initially, the pool villa was registered under a company jointly owned by Hong Kong and Thai partners. Examination of documents and financial records revealed evidence of illegal daily room rentals without a hotel operation license; the property was only registered as a residence. Officials summoned staff and related persons for further investigation.
Staff claimed the pool villa had been operating for only five months, charging 6,500 baht per day. Most rentals were through agencies who booked entire villas to resell to Chinese tourists. The resale price was unclear but was estimated between 8,000 and 10,000 baht per day.
During the inspection of buildings within the pool villa complex, at villa number 8 (G8), officials found a container placed next to the glass balcony on the second floor. Visually, it was immediately identifiable as a laughing gas tank, or nitrous oxide. The governor ordered an immediate investigation.
Police from Immigration and Chonburi Investigation Unit jointly identified 20 laughing gas tanks inside the villa. The tenants were a group of Chinese youths—three men and one woman—who were found sleeping in their rooms. Officials woke them and took them for preliminary questioning. They admitted purchasing laughing gas through Chinese contacts via WeChat at 300 yuan (approximately 1,000 baht) per tank, with chat records as evidence. Police seized the tanks as evidence and took the Chinese nationals for interrogation and drug testing.
Mr. Narit Niramaiwong, Governor of Chonburi, stated this operation was a multi-agency effort to crack down on foreign nationals conducting business through Thai nominees without permits, which threatens local security and the regional economy.
Officials inspected five high-risk companies in Pattaya, finding some operating hotels without proper licenses, registered only as residences, constituting legal violations. Authorities will prosecute confirmed offenses and have asked police, immigration, revenue, and related agencies to further investigate shareholder structures, sources of funds, and control to determine if owners are Thai or foreign.
The governor noted some shareholders claimed investments of 70 to 80 million baht, but their financial status and occupations did not match such investments, prompting in-depth investigations. If it is found that Thais are holding shares on behalf of foreigners, the Commerce Office will prosecute under laws regulating foreign business operations.
Chonburi Province has also set up a joint working group with all land offices to examine foreign legal entities’ land ownership. Preliminary data indicates 349 companies possibly holding land illegally. Confirmed violations will result in compulsory land sales under the law, and failure to comply within 180 days may lead to public auction of the land according to legal procedures.
The governor added that two committees were established: one to investigate nominee behavior and another to review land ownership. Both will hold weekly meetings to monitor progress and accelerate enforcement actions.
He also warned Thai nationals acting as nominees holding shares or assets for foreigners that such actions carry penalties including imprisonment and fines. Providing false information to officials may also result in criminal charges under the penal code.
Regarding pool villa and hotel operators, the governor emphasized the need to conduct business legally with full building and hotel operation permits. He requested cooperation in monitoring tenants who may use the premises for illegal activities, such as producing or hiding drugs, psychotropic substances, or hazardous materials. Any suspicious activity should be promptly reported to authorities.