The government spokesperson explained that the government is advancing its crackdown on "nominee" businesses, having identified over 6,500 cases. The goal is to foster transparent and fair business operations, reinforcing the Prime Minister's declaration of "no clearance, strict action on all cases." The public is invited to report tips via hotline 1570.
4 May 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that the government is pushing forward to suppress nominee businesses seriously by upgrading preventive measures including data linkage, proactive follow-up, and tightening legal frameworks. This is combined with using technology to analyze and connect agency databases to screen legal entities at risk of illegal business activities.
The key objective is to prevent misuse of legal entity status for illicit purposes such as money laundering and illegal business operations, while establishing a transparent and fair competitive business system in the long term. Furthermore, since enhancing operations from 1 January 2026, the first quarter saw a 60% reduction in high-risk nominee companies compared to the same period last year.
Recently, the Department of Business Development reported on suspected legal entities, finding cases where foreigners hold at least 50% shares and covertly conduct businesses listed in the annex of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) without authorization, constituting legal violations. Initially, 6,551 foreign legal entities operating in Thailand without permission and possibly breaching the law have been identified. Violations of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 carry penalties of up to 3 years imprisonment or fines ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 baht, or both. Anyone knowingly involved or failing to prevent such offenses may also be prosecuted as an accomplice.
“Prime Minister Anutin (Charnvirakul) is leading operations to combat all types of illegal businesses, including scammers, nominees, and gray capital. The crackdown particularly targets the use of Thai nationals as nominees conducting transactions on behalf of foreign investors, such as businesses reserved for Thai nationals, land ownership, and businesses linked to gray areas. The Prime Minister has clearly declared ‘no clearance, strict action on all cases’ to protect economic interests and national security. The public can report tips or seek more information via hotline 1570.”