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Hua Hin pool villa nominee raids net 13 foreigners

Thai police have arrested 13 foreign suspects during an operation targeting alleged nominee company arrangements linked to pool villas in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The operation, launched on 10 August, involved more than 200 officers and officials. Police issued arrest warrants for 45 foreign suspects, summonses for 39 Thais, and search warrants for 15 locations.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma ordered the operation, known as "Dismantling Foreign Nominee Networks, Phase 6". It was led by Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poolsawat and included Provincial Police Region 7, Prachuap Khiri Khan police, the provincial governor, the Department of Business Development and the Land Department.

Six firms under scrutiny at Hua Hin development

The searches centred on the A Hua Hin project in Thap Tai, Hua Hin, a modern detached-house and pool-villa development where homes are priced at about 10-20 million baht each.

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Police said their investigation found six companies allegedly using Thai nominee shareholders to acquire property in the development. Four companies were linked to A Hua Hin Phase 1 - identified as Inter, Blue, Cro and Humming - while two, L and Chris, were linked to Phase 2.

Foreigners questioned by investigators reportedly said they wanted to own property and had been advised by legal and accounting firms to establish Thai companies for that purpose. They told police they believed this meant their ownership was lawful.

Police said the companies had not conducted business. Thai nationals listed as shareholders allegedly said they were holding shares for foreigners, had never paid for the shares, managed no companies and had never seen financial documents or evidence of their shareholdings.

IMG_9821.jpeg

Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

Documents seized as police widen inquiry

Officers seized company registration and accounting records, computers, mobile phones and electronic data. They will examine financial trails and seek to identify other people or networks involved, in Thailand and overseas.

Police said 13 people were arrested under the warrants. Their list of nationalities comprised three Britons, one Italian, four Chinese, one French national, one Dutch national, one Austrian, one Filipino and one American.

The operation forms part of a wider national crackdown on alleged foreign nominee networks in tourist areas. During the previous five phases, police said they examined 233 plots of land and buildings covering more than 160 rai, with an estimated value of 2.539 billion baht.

Police said those earlier operations covered six provinces, listing Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Chon Buri. Courts approved 133 arrest warrants and 20 cases have already resulted in convictions, according to police.

The Royal Thai Police said it will continue investigating nominee arrangements and foreign-funded businesses alleged to be operating illegally, including any state officials suspected of corruption or assisting offenders. Reports can be made to local police stations or the 1599 police hotline, available 24 hours a day.

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11 August 2026

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JerryM Gold Member

JerryM

Advanced Member
(edited)
2 hours ago, patman30 said:

you simply rent it from the wife for 30 years (on paper)
all done at the land office
with rent paid up in advance (on paper)
so you are the legal tenant for the next 30 years

The lease price or rental price must be considered a reasonable rent or the land office will refuse registration of the lease agreement

https://www.samuiforsale.com/lease-law/lease-agreement-and-payment-of-rent.html

-- and can be kicked out any time she wants for non-payment of rent.

Edited by JerryM

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
16 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The real question for a lot of us is who makes these decisions, and do we have a choice? Of course we do. We always have a choice.

HEY hey hey ... don't you dare steal my tagline ... 😄

... Live with your choices

BritManToo Star Member

BritManToo

Advanced Member
32 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

HEY hey hey ... don't you dare steal my tagline ... 😄

... Live with your choices

Some of us choose French wine and cheese served on toothpicks ...........

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Some of us choose French wine and cheese served on toothpicks ...........

French wine ... Holy Buddha, you are rich. I can barely afford the cheese, and it's leftovers for brekkie.

No 10M baht pool villa illegally purchased, I'm surprise 😄

Ralf001 Star Member

Ralf001

Advanced Member
On 8/11/2026 at 8:51 AM, spidermike007 said:

A foreigner should be allowed to own one home and up to two rai of land.

100% agree, once they have permanent residency.

Ralf001 Star Member

Ralf001

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, patman30 said:

For the comments on having a house in the Wife's name
If you are concerned of future issues
you simply rent it from the wife for 30 years (on paper)
all done at the land office
with rent paid up in advance (on paper)
so you are the legal tenant for the next 30 years

Be better to setup a usefruct.

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

It has made total sense for me, and saved me about 4.5M THB over 25 yrs living here. And it literally cost me nothing, as the wife is sitting on the same amount of equity as the money we spent during that time.

That equals about 15k extra pocket money every month, in our pocket, instead of a landlord, not to mention, the 3M equity she has.

Makes a lot of sense to me, along with living in custom made house, just for us. 2nd one was 400+m² under roof with a small pool.

You didn't factor in the purchase price, and the equity is worthless until you sell.

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

French wine ... Holy Buddha, you are rich. I can barely afford the cheese, and it's leftovers for brekkie.

You could afford it, if you rented, and didn't tie your money up in a worthless Thai property in Issan, that's not even in your own name. 😂

Now, what is your plan, should your wife pass away before you?

Yeah, yeah, I know, she's 20 years young and that will never happen, and her family loves you. 😂

sungod Ruby Member

sungod

Advanced Member
On 8/11/2026 at 8:59 AM, Kerryd said:

Imagine if you go into a shop on a Sunday and buy a beer and when you step out of the shop the police arrest YOU because there is a ban on alcohol sales that day.
But they don't even look at the shop owner that sold you the beer and should have known they weren't allowed to.

Might get into the drug trade with rules like that!

BritManToo Star Member

BritManToo

Advanced Member
(edited)
8 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You could afford it, if you rented, and didn't tie your money up in a worthless Thai property in Issan, that's not even in your own name. 😂

Now, what is your plan, should your wife pass away before you?

Yeah, yeah, I know, she's 20 years young and that will never happen, and her family loves you. 😂

Dunno about KhunLA but,

Under Thai law (no will), I inherit 50%, and my son gets 50%

Not that I'm bothered about any of it, and would be happy enough to just walk away.

Edited by BritManToo

terryq Silver Member

terryq

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, patman30 said:

For the comments on having a house in the Wife's name
If you are concerned of future issues
you simply rent it from the wife for 30 years (on paper)
all done at the land office
with rent paid up in advance (on paper)
so you are the legal tenant for the next 30 years

This provides no protection as any contract between husband and wife can be cancelled at any time unilaterally by either party even if it is registered at the land office.

(As per article 1469 of the CCC)

Due to some legal quirk, which I as a non lawyer do not fully comprehend, Usufructs are excluded from this provision and are not able to be cancelled unilaterally, provided that they have been registered at the land office.

CallumWK Diamond Member

CallumWK

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, terryq said:

Due to some legal quirk, which I as a non lawyer do not fully comprehend, Usufructs are excluded from this provision and are not able to be cancelled unilaterally, provided that they have been registered at the land office.

Think again, usufruct between spouses also can be cancelled.

image.png

BritManToo Star Member

BritManToo

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

Think again, usufruct between spouses also can be cancelled.

image.png

Agree, an sufruct made with your wife can be unilaterally cancelled by your wife.

Best to make such an agreement with a person with whom you are not having sex.

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
(edited)
24 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You could afford it, if you rented, and didn't tie your money up in a worthless Thai property in Issan, that's not even in your own name. 😂

Now, what is your plan, should your wife pass away before you?

Yeah, yeah, I know, she's 20 years young and that will never happen, and her family loves you. 😂

Will is already made out, and all goes to our daughter.

And the equity in just the house, not counting the land lots, is the money that was spent. Your reading comprehension really sucks.

When I state I lived here rent free, that also means, still have 100% of any money spent on housing. That ~4.5M went in our pocket, not any landlords.

Edited by KhunLA

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Dunno about KhunLA but,

Under Thai law (no will), I inherit 50%, and my son gets 50%

Not that I'm bothered about any of it, and would be happy enough to just walk away.

His property is in his wife's name, so would be passed down to her kids.

As usual, all these guys seem to think the wife's kids will allow them to remain living in the property, and not one of the children will want to sell it and pocket the cash. 😂

Then, it's back to the bars to find another "trusted partner." 😂

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
Just now, KhunLA said:

And the equity in just the house, not countying the land lots, is the money that was spent.

Equity is on paper, it's not realized until you sell the property.

BritManToo Star Member

BritManToo

Advanced Member
(edited)
6 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

His property is in his wife's name, so would be passed down to her kids.

As usual, all these guys seem to think the wife's kids will allow them to remain living in the property, and not one of the children will want to sell it and pocket the cash. 😂

Then, it's back to the bars to find another "trusted partner." 😂

But he's married, and under Thai law husband inherits 50% of wife's property.

If his wife has kids (or next nearest class of relative), the remaining 50% is split equally between them.

If the property was purchased within the marriage, he already owns 50%, and would inherit 50% of her share, giving him a 75% control of the property.

Edited by BritManToo

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
(edited)
3 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

His property is in his wife's name, so would be passed down to her kids.

As usual, all these guys seem to think the wife's kids will allow them to remain living in the property, and not one of the children will want to sell it and pocket the cash. 😂

Then, it's back to the bars to find another "trusted partner." 😂

I'm hoping she does, and pays off her townhouse, she rents out now, and half they condo the also rent out. Free her from mortgage & interest. She's a chip of the ol' block.

I really don't need or want, if the wife dies. Not even sure what I'd do. Daughter has her own life, and I have no desire to live at Krung Thep. Knock around KH & VN for a bit, and have a think maybe, or even the USA, for a year or 2, before making any plans for anything permanent.

After that, probably come back to TH, spend last years close to daughter. I will be 72 at years end.

Edited by KhunLA

JerryM Gold Member

JerryM

Advanced Member
(edited)

Authorities may scrutinize usufruct arrangements involving foreigners if they appear designed to circumvent foreign land ownership restrictions

https://property.cbre.co.th/guides/usufruct-thailand-a-legal-alternative-for-foreign-investors

And as I remember the typical circumvention is: Foreigner makes gift to wife -- wife buys property-- wife gives 100 baht usufruct to spouse.

Edited by JerryM

Phil1964 Senior Member

Phil1964

Member

The great Thai scam syatem in full swing and there for all to see.

No thanks; odious, disingenuous people and a corrupt nation from top to bottom. Nice beaches, decent food, some interesting places for a visit, but not to live. But behind the smiles just malintent to fleece the foreigners of money.

JerryM Gold Member

JerryM

Advanced Member
(edited)
1 hour ago, Phil1964 said:

Nice beaches, decent food, some interesting places for a visit, but not to live

In the USofA, some people live in Miami Beach and some people live contentedly in Iowa. Not everyone wants to live in a resort area of Thailand.

Edited by JerryM

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But he's married, and under Thai law husband inherits 50% of wife's property.

If his wife has kids (or next nearest class of relative), the remaining 50% is split equally between them.

If the property was purchased within the marriage, he already owns 50%, and would inherit 50% of her share, giving him a 75% control of the property.

Zero control. Under Thai law he can't own it. He would have to sign it over to her kids, and then hope they don't want to move into it or sell it, and allow him to remain living in it. 😂

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I'm hoping she does, and pays off her townhouse, she rents out now, and half they condo the also rent out. Free her from mortgage & interest. She's a chip of the ol' block.

I really don't need or want, if the wife dies. Not even sure what I'd do. Daughter has her own life, and I have no desire to live at Krung Thep. Knock around KH & VN for a bit, and have a think maybe, or even the USA, for a year or 2, before making any plans for anything permanent.

After that, probably come back to TH, spend last years close to daughter. I will be 72 at years end.

Wouldn't you go and look for another "trusted partner" so you can make money in real estate here? 😂 😂

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

Wouldn't you go and look for another "trusted partner" so you can make money in real estate here? 😂 😂

Pretty sure, you only get that lucky, once in life. Took 6 tries for me, and why I would consider mayber returning to USA, still have a couple friends w/bennies over there. Thinking great travel partner to cruise around the USA with.

Not much more here I can see, though plenty in USA for me to peek at.

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Phil1964 said:

The great Thai scam syatem in full swing and there for all to see.

No thanks; odious, disingenuous people and a corrupt nation from top to bottom. Nice beaches, decent food, some interesting places for a visit, but not to live. But behind the smiles just malintent to fleece the foreigners of money.

I agree with your assessment, so I put into Thailand pretty much what Thailand gives me, which is nothing.

I could head straight to the airport, leaving everything behind, and I suffer only a minor financial loss.

It's when a foreigner starts to believe in the smoke and mirrors here that they allowed themselves to be scammed.

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Took 6 tries for me

Costly. 🙂

Everything is for sale in Thailand, even trust. 😂

TimBKK Gold Member

TimBKK

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, JerryM said:

Authorities may scrutinize usufruct arrangements involving foreigners if they appear designed to circumvent foreign land ownership restrictions

https://property.cbre.co.th/guides/usufruct-thailand-a-legal-alternative-for-foreign-investors

And as I remember the typical circumvention is: Foreigner makes gift to wife -- wife buys property-- wife gives 100 baht usufruct to spouse.

Thanks for the link. I know they kinda have to say this, but ironic nonetheless “Engaging an independent Thai legal professional is strongly recommended to ensure appropriate due diligence and risk assessment.”

Not sure “legal” and “professional” should be in the same sentence in this country.

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member
(edited)
Just now, KhunHeineken said:

Costly. 🙂

Everything is for sale in Thailand, even trust. 😂

Costly, not at all, first 2 wives, no real assets or equity built up, and simply ended, no drama or assets to share. 2 USA non married, were just fun living together. 1st Thai wive, stated, I sold house, kept proceeds.

Present wife is #6, she deserves it all, 20 yrs together and will go to daughter when she passes. Wife is 50 yrs old, come Oct, and daughter is 27, so many years to go, to enjoy what we acquired.

That's what happens when you do things legally ... (on topic 🙄) ... you get to keep your sh!t and pass down to your love ones.

Edited by KhunLA

KhunHeineken Diamond Member

KhunHeineken

Advanced Member
20 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's what happens when you do things legally ... (on topic 🙄) ..

Many will now be looking to sell their shares in their Thai company to their Thai lady. There might be a spike in Thailand's divorce rate as this crackdown continues. 🙂

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