Prime Minister Anutin orders Minister Suchart to crack down on the intrusion network at Freedom Beach Phuket to reclaim the public beach and national property for the people
On 12 May 2026, Pol Maj Gen Nantachat Supamongkol, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, revealed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directly instructed Minister Suchart Chomklin, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, to closely monitor and supervise the intrusion at Freedom Beach in Phuket. He emphasized that all agencies must act seriously and decisively against lawbreakers to reclaim the forest and public beach areas as national and public assets.
Pol Maj Gen Nantachat Supamongkol, together with Kanthaphan Pisansuksakul, Inspector General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Rungrueng Thimabut, Phuket Provincial Secretary; Manit Eksuwan, Phuket Land Reform Officer; Samphan Meesit, Director of Phuket Forest Center; and related agencies including the Agricultural Land Reform Office, Internal Security Operations Command, and local administrative authorities, have integrated forces to investigate the land intrusion at Freedom Beach, Phuket. This longstanding problem has persisted for over 10 years. Following Minister Suchart Chomklin’s directives, they are expediting investigation and prosecution of those illegally occupying state resources to the fullest extent.
In-depth investigations revealed the area is subject to systematic and complex intrusion. The process began in 2015 when individuals entered as land caretakers for the original owners, then took possession of the land after the original owners passed away. Officials involved in issuing improper land titles have been prosecuted.
Subsequently, influential groups were brought in to expand the territory and claim exclusive control over the access routes to the beach. They exploited the steep mountainous terrain to block public access and charged tourists a toll of 200–300 baht each, claiming it was for area maintenance and waste management. There were also attempts to use forged land title documents within the land database system.
Previously, under the direction of Nirath Pongsitthathawon, Governor of Phuket, local security agencies inspected the Nakkerd Mountain National Reserved Forest and found clear intrusions totaling over 57 rai. This led to the seizure of assets and filing of 23 complaints under the Forest Act and the National Reserved Forest Act. These intrusions damaged natural resources in a strategically important area of Phuket.
Pol Maj Gen Nantachat stated that the government will not tolerate encroachment on forest and public beach areas for personal gain. He ordered relevant agencies to expedite legal proceedings, coordinate closely with investigators to ensure thorough case files, and swiftly bring offenders to justice to preserve the country’s natural resources sustainably for current and future generations.