Two ministers raided three locations in Pattaya to dismantle an Israeli nominee network that disguised ownership by registering shares under Thai names, seizing assets worth hundreds of millions.
On 21 August 2026, Mr. Worasit Liangprasit, Deputy Minister of the Interior (Minister of Interior No. 4), along with Police Lieutenant General Rutthaphol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, led special operations personnel from the Department of Provincial Administration, collaborating with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Royal Thai Police. Using warrants from the Criminal Court, they launched an operation to search suspected networks using nominees to hold land and conduct business on behalf of foreigners in Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
This operation focused on inspecting three key targets after investigations found links to "Cozy Beach View Co., Ltd.", which has Israeli investors as directors and has disguised ownership by registering shares under Thai names since 2010. The first target was the KT International Law Office, which acted as an agent for nominating Thai employees to hold shares for foreigners. The second was Chilla Avenue Pattaya Hotel, where a complex shareholder structure was found. The third was Cozy Beach View Co., Ltd., which holds shares jointly with Lotus Paradise Development Co., Ltd. The total assets linked to this network amount to several hundred million baht.
Initially, authorities seized and froze business documents, computer equipment, and all electronic data for forensic examination. This aims to expedite expanding legal action against the individuals and entities involved, strictly enforcing the Foreign Business Act of 1999.