Chonburi raids target 33 suspected nominee firms

Thai police and Chonburi provincial authorities launched coordinated searches at 41 locations on 17 July, targeting 33 companies suspected of using Thai nominees to hold land for foreign nationals.

The operation, which began at 6.30am from Huai Yai Police Station in Bang Lamung district, also covered a housing development in the district. Officers are examining suspected arrangements involving 32 land plots with a combined estimated value of about 235 million baht.

Police Lieutenant General Nopasin Poolsawat, an officer attached to the Office of the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, jointly led the operation with Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwong.

Fourth phase of nominee crackdown

The Chonburi action is the fourth phase of a wider crackdown on businesses suspected of concealing foreign ownership through Thai shareholders.

Earlier phases were carried out in Surat Thani, including Koh Phangan, as well as Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga. Police said those first three phases examined about 130 rai of land connected to suspected nominee entities, valued at more than 1.671 billion baht.

More than 100 arrest warrants for Thai and foreign suspects were also executed during those operations, according to Lt Gen Nopasin.

For Chonburi, officials hold four arrest warrants and 41 search warrants. Teams from the national police special operations unit, provincial police, local administrative authorities, the provincial commerce office and the provincial land office are involved.

Checks focus on ownership and money trails

Investigators are reviewing company shareholder structures, financial transactions and land rights to determine whether Thai nationals were used to hold shares on behalf of foreigners.

One target is a village development in Bang Lamung district, where authorities are examining suspected landholding arrangements involving foreign individuals.

Governor Narit said investigating nominee companies and foreign landholding was an important government policy requiring cooperation between several agencies. He said detailed investigations, shareholder checks and scrutiny of financial routes were needed to close loopholes that could be used to evade Thai law.

He instructed officers to act honestly, carefully and strictly within the law. If wrongdoing is found, authorities said they will pursue legal action and may seek the revocation or disposal of land under the relevant legal procedures.

What this means for foreign buyers

The operation underlines the risks for foreigners who use, or are offered, arrangements involving Thai shareholders to bypass restrictions on business ownership or landholding.

Foreign residents, investors and prospective Pattaya-area property buyers should expect greater scrutiny of company structures and the source of funds where land is involved. The authorities' investigation is focused on suspected illegal nominee arrangements, rather than being an allegation against all foreign-owned businesses or foreign residents.

Picture courtesy of SiamChon

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17 July 2026