Thirteen foreign nationals have been arrested in Hua Hin as police setup up the crackdown on people suspected of using nominees to circumvent Thailand’s laws on land ownership.
The operation on Monday morning (10 August) uncovered at least 33 companies suspected of holding land and property on behalf of foreign nationals, involving assets valued at more than 300 million baht.
Investigators also identified 849 legal entities in the Hua Hin area considered at risk of using nominee shareholders, indicating that the investigation could expand significantly.
Authorities secured arrest warrants for 45 foreign nationals, issued summonses to 39 Thai nationals and searched 15 locations as part of Phase 6 of the Royal Thai Police operation against foreign nominee networks.
Those detained comprised three British nationals, four Chinese nationals and one national each from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Philippines and the United States.
Hua Hin Today understands that several of those arrested were subsequently released on bail of 30,000 baht each.
The operation involved some of Thailand’s most senior police officers, underlining the significance authorities are placing on the nominee crackdown. Police Commissioner-General Samran Nuanma directed the operation, alongside Pol Lt Gen Nopasilp Poolsawat from the Office of the National Police Chief and Pol Lt Gen Pisit Tanprasert, Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 7. Senior regional and provincial commanders, including Pol Maj Gen Kan Thammakasem and Pol Maj Gen Athorn Chinthong, head of Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Police, also took part.
In addition, more than 200 police officers and officials were also involved, including personnel from the Department of Business Development and Department of Land.
Hua Hin nominee crackdown targets Thap Tai villas
Police Commissioner-General Samran Nuanma, known as ‘Big Ran’ (centre)
Police said a main target of the operation was a modern detached-house and pool villa development in Thap Tai, Hua Hin district, where properties are valued at around 10 million to 20 million baht each.
In-depth investigations allegedly found that legal entities were using Thai nominee shareholders to hold property within the development on behalf of foreign nationals.
While six companies had initially been identified in connection with properties at the development, police said Monday’s operation uncovered at least 33 companies suspected of holding land on behalf of foreigners, involving property worth more than 300 million baht.
Police said some foreign suspects told investigators they had been advised by law firms and accounting firms to establish companies to hold property in Thailand and believed the arrangements were lawful.
Investigators allege, however, that the companies were not carrying out genuine business activities.
Thai nationals listed as shareholders reportedly told police they had not paid for their shares, had not managed the companies and were holding shares on behalf of foreigners.
Officers seized company registration documents, accounting records, computers, mobile phones and electronic data. Investigators will now examine financial transactions and seek to identify other individuals and networks potentially involved in Thailand and overseas.
Investigation could expand further
Police said five previous phases of the nominee crackdown had examined 233 plots of land and buildings covering more than 160 rai, with a combined estimated value of about 2.539 billion baht.
A total of 133 arrest warrants have been approved in earlier investigations, with 20 cases resulting in convictions.
The Royal Thai Police said the crackdown would continue in major tourism areas, while authorities will also examine whether government officials assisted those suspected of wrongdoing.
