Chaiyachana instructed Region 8 police to strictly control nominees and scammers, keeping an eye on foreign groups using Phuket as a crime base. Meanwhile, the Thalang district chief updated the meeting on the Bang Tao Beach case, where the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing the defendant to one year in prison.
On 6 August 2026 in Phuket, Chaiyachana Dechadecho, party-list MP and deputy leader of the Democrat Party, serving as a commissioner and advisor to the Parliamentary Police Commission, visited Phuket to monitor Region 8 police operations. Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapong Thanomjit, acting commander of Region 8 Police, welcomed him, joined by Phuket Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam and relevant officials at the Region 8 Police meeting room.
Chaiyachana urged Region 8 police and the Immigration Office to tighten surveillance and follow up on illegal activities by foreign capital groups, especially issues involving Thai nominees, land ownership, or business operations exploiting legal loopholes. He also emphasized cracking down on scammer gangs, call centers, and online gambling networks using Phuket and other Andaman provinces as operational bases.
He stated that previously the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment and Interior had continuously monitored land encroachment issues, but new forms of crime such as scammer gangs, call centers, and online gambling networks remain urgent problems under Region 8 police jurisdiction.
"Originally, we focused on gray-area Chinese investors committing crimes in Thailand, but reports from local networks indicate that Indian nationals have recently been renting houses and accommodations in Phuket and Krabi to operate scammer activities. This is a matter that security agencies must closely monitor," Chaiyachana said.
He also highlighted the problem of foreign capital groups from Russia, Israel, China, and others using nominees to register companies in Thailand, exploiting legal and shareholding structure loopholes to conduct business or hold assets contrary to the law’s intent. He called on relevant agencies, especially the Department of Business Development, to strictly verify shareholder and controlling party structures to prevent nominee misuse disguising foreign business operations.
Chaiyachana stressed that solving the nominee issue, transnational crime, and scammer gangs requires integration between Region 8 police, Immigration Office, and security agencies to close legal gaps, prevent offenses, and build lasting confidence for residents, tourists, and businesses in Phuket and the Andaman region.
The meeting also received a progress report on the public land encroachment case at Bang Tao Beach, Choeng Thale subdistrict, Thalang district. Ms. Wilailak Rueangphon, Thalang district chief, reported that on the same morning, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s judgment sentencing the defendant to one year in prison and a 100,000 baht fine. Related cases are still progressing through the justice system.
Chaiyachana said the case's progress reflects serious law enforcement against public land encroachers. He urged relevant agencies to continue investigating and prosecuting all offenders, whether involving state land encroachment, nominee-held assets, or other legal violations, to protect national interests and ensure equal law enforcement confidence.