Pictures courtesy of Matichon 

 

Police have arrested two Israeli nationals and six Thai and Myanmar workers in a coordinated crackdown on illegally operated businesses on the resort island of Koh Phangan. The operation forms part of an ongoing national campaign against foreign investors using Thai nominees to bypass business ownership laws.

 

The joint operation, carried out on 17 October 2025 by Surat Thani Immigration Police, Provincial Police, Tourist Police and local officials, focused on two hotel and café establishments. Eight people were detained in total, two Israelis, four Myanmar nationals and two Thais, while authorities continue to pursue a third Israeli suspect linked to the case.

 

At Hotel Arcana in Moo 8, Koh Phangan sub-district, police charged Mr. Guy, an Israeli national and Mr. Suwichanon, a Thai national, both listed as company directors, for operating a hotel without proper authorisation. Mr. Sean Gal, another Israeli national working as hotel manager, was arrested for performing duties beyond his visa’s legal scope. Two Myanmar workers were also detained for illegal employment.

 

A separate raid at Blessings Home and Café in Thong Sala village revealed two Myanmar nationals working in prohibited roles, including serving coffee and handling cash. Mr. Panupong, a Thai employer, was charged with allowing foreign staff to exceed their legal work scope. Investigators determined that Ms. Yara, an Israeli national named as a company director, was the real owner. She is now wanted by police for allegedly operating a hotel without a licence, while the Myanmar employees face further charges for working beyond their visa permissions.

 

Police Lieutenant General Phanumat Bunlaksana, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, stated that the operation supports national policies aimed at curbing transnational criminal activity and illegal nominee business schemes. He warned that such practices harm the economy and damage Thailand’s international tourism reputation.

 

Authorities have urged the public to report suspicious foreign business activities through a 24-hour immigration hotline at 1178. Officials confirmed that enforcement operations would continue on Koh Phangan and other tourist destinations as part of a wider effort to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting legal loopholes in Thai business laws.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Two Israeli nationals and six Thai and Myanmar workers were arrested in Koh Phangan for running unlicensed businesses.

• Police identified illegal nominee structures where foreigners controlled Thai-registered companies.

• Authorities plan further nationwide crackdowns and have opened a 24-hour hotline for public reports.

 

Related Stories

 

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Israeli-investor-probed-over-Koh-Phangan-illegal-work-scheme

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-10-18

 

 

 

 

Video courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Is it Is Israeli week in Samui news section?

Obviously not trying very hard to catch people.

I can go on Facebook any day and see several people working in photos that they probably aren't allowed to do or don't have work permit for .

Some of these are in very large fancy hotels and others usually involve people being a DJ.

Then add hundreds that probably own and run smaller hotels around islands.

On 10/18/2025 at 3:42 PM, Georgealbert said:

The operation forms part of an ongoing national campaign against foreign investors using Thai nominees to bypass business ownership laws.

A very grey area between legit nominees and illegal nominees.

 

Be careful Thailand. It starts like that and before you know it they’ll expel the natives.  You wanna fix Israeli issues in the south build a mosque in the area with loudspeakers. Plenty of locals would love to be involved in such projects 😂😂😂

Clean it up properly this time. Deportation!

On 10/18/2025 at 3:42 PM, Georgealbert said:

Authorities have urged the public to report suspicious foreign business activities through a 24-hour immigration hotline at 1178

I will be keeping a close eye on a certain group down here and have the number on my speed dial.

On 10/19/2025 at 9:56 PM, PoorSucker said:

Is it Is Israeli week in Samui news section?

Kaosod English is a good site, especially the crime and courts section.

I prefer reading Thai media over western media as it is not woke and doesn’t protect criminal’s backgrounds and identifies them,

But Anutin said Chabad Houses ok, no problem?

8 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

But Anutin said Chabad Houses ok, no problem?

The Chabad houses are fine.

If they respect the Thais and others.

 

But as we have seen this year they have an attitude that “ our money built your country”, we have had problems with counterfeiting, temple donations being stolen,

illegal companies employing illegal workers, drug dealing, noisy parties in residential areas, rampages in hospitals, not paying for restaurant meals, spitting on Thai police and sexual assaults on teen tourists.

 

i think you will agree with me that something should be done before it gets worse with the expected flood of even more of them coming now the genocide is hopefully over.

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

The Chabad houses are fine.

If they respect the Thais and others.

 

But as we have seen this year they have an attitude that “ our money built your country”, we have had problems with counterfeiting, temple donations being stolen,

illegal companies employing illegal workers, drug dealing, noisy parties in residential areas, rampages in hospitals, not paying for restaurant meals, spitting on Thai police and sexual assaults on teen tourists.

 

i think you will agree with me that something should be done before it gets worse with the expected flood of even more of them coming now the genocide is hopefully over.

 

The criminal issues with Israelis are never ending, so clearly I agree with you, something should be done.

 

i just don't think that with a numbskull like Anutin anything will be done, he's useless.

 

Clearly the Chabad houses attract these masses of Israeli IDF soldiers and criminals, they should be closed for a start.

13 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Clearly the Chabad houses attract these masses of Israeli IDF soldiers and criminals, they should be closed for a start.

Well they might have to the way things are going. 

Keep up the pressure until they are gone.

Wherever they are in large numbers there is trouble.

Israel by necessity has compulsory national service for most young people, men and women. As in any country, there are exemption options of course. Depending on obvious factors service might be active military and might be back office type stuff.  To demonize all "IDF soldiers" and putting them all in the same boat is the same thing as demonizing the vast majority of young Israeli Jews. Par for the course with hate speech here. Weed out criminals, sure. That's it whether you're talking about Israelis or anyone else.

Off topic post removed. @DaddyWarbucks if you wish to discuss Gaza, then there are plenty of topics in the world news.

On 10/20/2025 at 3:51 AM, JJ-Thailand said:

Clean it up properly this time. Deportation!

 

They cant or not allowed.