Anutin Leads Phuket Beach Land Crackdown

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Phuket on Sunday, May 10, to oversee government efforts to reclaim public land and protect national forest areas at Bang Tao Beach and Freedom Beach. The visit comes amid an intensified crackdown on illegal structures, land encroachment and foreign-controlled businesses operating unlawfully in the province.

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At Bang Tao Beach, authorities have spent much of 2026 dismantling illegal restaurants and commercial buildings built on public beachfront land. Officials said more than five rai, or around 8,000 square metres, had already been reclaimed from 16 illegal restaurant structures.

Investigators found that parts of the beachfront had been illegally subleased, with public land treated as private rental property. Authorities also reported that foreign nationals had allegedly used Thai nominees to control and expand businesses along the beach, complicating enforcement efforts.

At Freedom Beach, located within the Khao Nak Kerd National Reserved Forest in Karon, officials uncovered illegal forest clearing linked to the construction of accommodation, shops and other facilities. The encroached land has reportedly been controlled by a group referred to locally as the “Freedom Beach Mafia”, which allegedly sold parts of the area to foreign nationals for large sums of money.

The operation has also exposed escalating tensions between authorities and those accused of encroachment. Phuket lawmakers reported intimidation attempts, including shooting threats and gunshot-like sounds directed at officials after calls for stronger action against the group controlling the area.

Further inspections revealed four elephants chained within the encroached forest zone, raising additional concerns about illegal wildlife possession and misuse of protected land. Authorities said the discoveries highlighted the wider environmental and legal issues connected to the encroachment cases.

The current enforcement campaign marks a broader shift in strategy by Phuket authorities. Rather than targeting only small vendors, officials are now investigating illegal land titles, nominee business structures, and commercial operations exploiting public coastal areas and protected forest land.

Anutin said the government remained committed to protecting public land, enforcing environmental conservation laws, and ensuring land ownership regulations were upheld. Authorities aim to return reclaimed areas to public use while continuing investigations into those responsible for illegal development.

Police in Phuket also reported progress in a parallel crackdown on foreigners accused of violating Thailand’s business laws. Under the Foreign Business Act and nominee regulations, authorities targeted 15 businesses involving foreign nationals, mainly in the restaurant and car rental sectors.

Among 33 foreign suspects identified, Russians formed the largest group, followed by Chinese nationals. Police said charges included operating restricted businesses and using nominees to bypass Thai ownership laws.

The Nation reported that authorities also increased checks on foreigners driving without valid Thai licences, with more than 8,600 foreign nationals charged during the first four months of 2026.

Picture courtesy of The Nation

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 11 May 2026