No negotiations without clarifications: Phonphir raids a Chinese nominee hotel, revealing the owner called to negotiate, claiming installment payments to government officials. He declared that wrongdoing is wrongdoing, the law must be sacred, and vowed to dismantle the entire network.
9 Aug 2026 15:00 GMT+7 Phonphir Suwanchavee, Deputy Minister of the Interior (MoI2). He led a special operations unit from the Department of Provincial Administration to launch the “Huai Khwang Integration” operation, investigating networks of possible nominee businesses and illegal hotels in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok. This operation involved multiple agencies including the Department of Provincial Administration, Immigration Office, Department of Business Development, Department of Employment, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), under the “Interior Ministry Acts Immediately Action 5 PLUS” policy of Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Officials conducted random inspections of hotels and businesses in Huai Khwang following complaints and tips from local residents. They found several suspicious issues, including operating without licenses, construction or building alterations potentially violating laws, and problems with building safety systems.
Additionally, examination of shareholder structures in some businesses revealed possible nominee behavior, with Chinese nationals holding 49% shares and Thai wives holding 51%. However, interrogations showed the Thai shareholders lacked knowledge about share payments, company registration, or business management. Officials also found connections to accounting firms and law offices potentially involved, prompting further investigation.
Phonphir stated that inspections inside target hotels raised concerns about fire escape stairs, emergency exits, and fire protection systems, posing risks to guest safety in emergencies. Labor inspections found illegal foreign workers in inspected locations, including some employed in occupations reserved by law for Thai nationals.
A shocking incident occurred during the operation when an operator attempted to contact authorities to negotiate, citing certain local government officers in Huai Khwang and immigration officials. The caller claimed payments were made not only for the inspected sites but regularly in installments across multiple establishments.
“Another thing the media should have recorded on video and audio is the owner attempting to negotiate, referencing various agencies,” Phonphir said. “What’s more alarming is that he referenced officials within Huai Khwang district and even immigration officers, claiming installment payments were made regularly across many establishments, not just the ones we inspected today.”
He ordered the Department of Provincial Administration to coordinate with relevant agencies to verify the phone numbers, trace the callers, and investigate two to three individuals alleged to be officials from various agencies to confirm their identities and involvement.
Phonphir emphasized that civil servants, paid by taxpayers, should not abuse their authority to facilitate foreign interests that encroach on Thai jobs or businesses. If investigations reveal state officials receiving benefits, disciplinary and criminal proceedings will follow. He also coordinated with the Department of Lands to check property ownership by related capital groups; if land is held via nominees or illegally, authorities will proceed with revocation and forced sale.
Meanwhile, officials are preparing to expand financial investigations after finding QR codes linked to online gambling websites, payments bypassing Thai bank accounts, and the use of foreign food delivery platforms requiring further registration and tax checks.
Phonphir said the operation will not stop at Huai Khwang or Bangkok but will expand nationwide, examining complaints, online platforms, and financial trails of suspicious businesses. Wrongdoing is wrongdoing, regardless of foreign capital, nominees, brokers, law firms, or government officials. If evidence shows involvement, all will face the same legal process, as any compromise undermines the law’s sanctity.
He concluded that Prime Minister Anutin has a clear policy rejecting corruption and officials linked to gray capital, emphasizing the principle: “Focus on behavior, not names,” regardless of identity or agency. If investigations confirm wrongdoing, legal action will be pursued to the fullest extent.
