Police in Surat Thani will oppose bail for 21 foreign nationals accused of using Thai nominees to illegally hold land and operate businesses on Koh Phangan, with all suspects due to appear before Koh Samui Provincial Court on 25 May.
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Investigators said the arrests followed a two-phase crackdown led by the Royal Thai Police under a task force targeting illegal nominee business structures. Authorities allege the suspects used Thai shareholders as proxies to establish companies and acquire land in violation of Thai law.
The operation was led by Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief, alongside officers from the Central Investigation Bureau, Provincial Police Region 8, Surat Thani Provincial Police, Immigration Police, Tourist Police and provincial anti-illegal business teams. Phase one on 13 May involved raids on five legal and accounting offices, where documents were seized for further analysis.
Police later expanded the investigation during phase two on 23 May, arresting 21 foreign suspects under warrants issued by Koh Samui Provincial Court. Officers also seized 38 land title deeds worth an estimated 200 million baht for examination.
The suspects include four Israelis, four French nationals, three Russians, two Ukrainians, and one national each from South Africa, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Australia, Turkey, Germany and the Philippines. They face charges linked to making false statements in official documents and unlawfully acquiring land through nominee company arrangements under the Criminal Code and Land Code.
Pol Maj Gen Suwat Suksri, commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police and head of the investigative team, said officers would not grant bail during the investigation stage. He said police were accelerating interviews and evidence gathering before seeking court detention orders on 25 May.
Authorities said investigators are currently handling 97 nominee-related cases. Police expressed confidence they could complete case files and forward recommendations to prosecutors within the required 48-day period.
Investigators are using the SPNi-X programme, developed by Surat Thani Provincial Police narcotics and money laundering investigators, to analyse financial trails and supporting documents. Police said the system helps identify whether Thai shareholders genuinely invested in the companies or were acting on behalf of foreign owners.
The investigation found 32 corporate entities allegedly linked to nominee arrangements, with 45 arrest warrants issued for foreign directors. Police said 22 warrants covering 21 individuals have so far been executed.
Authorities noted that the companies collectively held around 38 rai of land, much of it undeveloped or awaiting construction. One company, FB Propertys Co Ltd, based on Koh Phangan and linked to Israeli operators, allegedly ran a yoga and food business called The Yoga House Koh Phangan while holding eight plots of land covering about 7.5 rai, valued at around 60 million baht excluding buildings.
The Daily News reported that investigators said financial checks indicated the Thai shareholders involved lacked the means to fund the investments themselves, strengthening allegations of illegal nominee ownership structures.
Picture courtesy of Daily News
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 25 May 2026