Deputy Interior Ministers Phonphir Suwannachee and Worasit Liangprasit have ordered a broad crackdown on illegal foreign land ownership and nominee arrangements in Phuket, with a focus on returning land to Thai ownership and bringing unregistered businesses into the legal system.

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The policy direction was announced during a meeting with Interior Ministry agencies and related government departments at Phuket Provincial Hall on 18 June 2026. Senior officials, including the Phuket Governor, attended the session alongside district chiefs and government representatives.

Phonphir said the immediate priority was “returning Thai land to Thai people” following widespread reports of foreign nationals illegally occupying and controlling land through nominee structures. He instructed Phuket authorities to coordinate with all relevant agencies to investigate cases thoroughly and take firm action where laws have been broken.

He stressed that those found guilty must be held accountable, while individuals who have acted legally should be given the opportunity to explain their position. Referring to guidance from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Phonphir said authorities would focus on behaviour rather than identities when enforcing the law.

The deputy minister added that Phuket could not be closed off from international visitors and investors, but illegal practices must be addressed. He said the government does not want foreign nationals or their nominees gaining unfair advantages at the expense of Thai citizens or interfering with the work of public officials.

Phonphir also highlighted concerns over entertainment venues operating outside legal regulations. He said authorities should work towards bringing such businesses into the formal system so that they can be properly regulated while preserving employment opportunities. He added that the Interior Ministry’s role includes modernising laws and encouraging operators who remain outside the legal framework to register with the government as quickly as possible.

He described the next phase of work as a “reset” rather than a reopening of old disputes, with the aim of ensuring that all outstanding problems are addressed without omission. He said the objective was to improve Phuket’s image as a safe, attractive destination for residents and visitors.

Worasit said the government was focused on determining what Phuket should look like in the future and implementing the prime minister’s policies more clearly, particularly regarding hotels and land ownership. He said authorities were working to reduce illegal land encroachment and regulatory violations because Phuket residents and the national economy were directly affected.

Thaitabloid reported that he added that unnecessary obstacles to legal business operations should be removed while encouraging operators outside the system to become compliant. Worasit said both the public and private sectors were ready to support the reforms and that authorities would take action against anyone obstructing lawful processes. He also pledged protection for government officials acting in the national interest.

Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 19 June 2026

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arrest

land department crooked officials taking bribes

and lawyers that setup these businesses

should not be difficult to find, all registered, right ?

My guess is that somebody in power and didn't like the idea of renaming Phuket little Russia so they decided to do something about it I guess if they're successful there they will move on to Samui or Chiang Mai.. it's one of those the moving finger having written moves on things

Never understood why intelligent people went this route when buying a condo. Sure you get the condo but a little thought of the future anxiety of knowing it was done illegally might be a concern? I usually let things go after making a decision but spending millions of baht and just hoping that things wouldn't change and if they did you would be screwed is no way to live.

But the lawyer said it's done like this all the time, don't worry.

That's what I heard 3 years ago in a Pattaya firm. Been in Real Estate far to long to believe that non-sense.

The risk of a crackdown that is now happening, legal and financial losses made it way to risky for any sane person.

Anyone in Phuket watching the Real Estate market. Are there now many properties listed for sale trying to sell and get out before they are swept up in the crackdown.

Good luck. It's going to be a big job if they are serious.

There is serious wealth there and probably a great deal of influence. They'll have to be very careful in who they prosecute. Thailand has porous borders and Russians/ Ukrainians have deleted very powerful and well protected oligarchs.

28 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Never understood why intelligent people went this route when buying a condo. Sure you get the condo but a little thought of the future anxiety of knowing it was done illegally might be a concern? I usually let things go after making a decision but spending millions of baht and just hoping that things wouldn't change and if they did you would be screwed is no way to live.

I agree. Especially for condos, as foreigners can have freehold/title for up to 49% of the building. I also could never understand leasing a house/land either. In effect, you're paying 30 years of rent up front. And could the owner still sell it some time down the road? I know about usufructs etc., but still TIT. A friend of mine (late) once said he would never buy any kind of residential property in Thailand. When I asked why, he said 'because one day 'they' may try to take it away from me'.

“withthe aim of ensuring that all outstanding problems are addressed without omission. He said the objective was to improve Phuket’s image as a safe, attractive destination for residents and visitors.”

That’s quite a lofty ambition, fairly far removed from simply examining companies with 49% foreign shareholders and 51% Thai.

Seems like project creep to me, but makes for a good sound bite.

There should be some bargains of property for sale in Phuket now

4 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

There should be some bargains of property for sale in Phuket now

I doubt it. It's just another 'crackdown' that will be forgotten about in a month from now. But it does open the door to a bonanza of extortion against those foreigners found to be in violation. I wonder what the accepted going rate will be.. ten percent of the property purchase value or ten percent of a foreign owned business' monthly revenue in return for ignoring them?

There coming for you.

Let The Games Commence.

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I agree. Especially for condos, as foreigners can have freehold/title for up to 49% of the building. I also could never understand leasing a house/land either. In effect, you're paying 30 years of rent up front. And could the owner still sell it some time down the road? I know about usufructs etc., but still TIT. A friend of mine (late) once said he would never buy any kind of residential property in Thailand. When I asked why, he said 'because one day 'they' may try to take it away from me'.

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I agree. Especially for condos, as foreigners can have freehold/title for up to 49% of the building. I also could never understand leasing a house/land either. In effect, you're paying 30 years of rent up front. And could the owner still sell it some time down the road? I know about usufructs etc., but still TIT. A friend of mine (late) once said he would never buy any kind of residential property in Thailand. When I asked why, he said 'because one day 'they' may try to take it away from me'.

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I agree. Especially for condos, as foreigners can have freehold/title for up to 49% of the building. I also could never understand leasing a house/land either. In effect, you're paying 30 years of rent up front. And could the owner still sell it some time down the road? I know about usufructs etc., but still TIT. A friend of mine (late) once said he would never buy any kind of residential property in Thailand. When I asked why, he said 'because one day 'they' may try to take it away from me'.

What I find ominous is the statement "returning Thai land to Thai people"

That suggests potentially that the properties are in effect confiscated from the 49/51 owner and then I assume sold through an estate agent or auction to Thai nationals

If the quote and my interpretation is close to accuracy a lot of foreign owned properties will be rendered valueless

2 minutes ago, Legal Lifeline said:

What I find ominous is the statement "returning Thai land to Thai people"

Agree. But is it just political bluster? Will some of these guys get in on a racket where these foreigners are identified, but then pay a bribe to take spotlight off of them?

3 minutes ago, Legal Lifeline said:

What I find ominous is the statement "returning Thai land to Thai people"

That suggests potentially that the properties are in effect confiscated from the 49/51 owner and then I assume sold through an estate agent or auction to Thai nationals

If the quote and my interpretation is close to accuracy a lot of foreign owned properties will be rendered valueless

I think it’s more likely they will be given a timeframe in which to sell them, maybe a year, maybe a lot less.

Undoubtedly they will be sold cheap.

This is about headlines in the press for Thai consumption, ie our problems are foreigners, distracts from an economy in trouble and all the corruption scandals, if the authorities were serious, then it would have been the lawyers arrested and all the other parties who make money out of it in 6 months to a year this will all be forgotton, there is simply too much money to be made

2 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

There is serious wealth there and probably a great deal of influence. They'll have to be very careful in who they prosecute. Thailand has porous borders and Russians/ Ukrainians have deleted very powerful and well protected oligarchs.

Ukrainians? They are not particularly wealthy nor influential in Phuket.

So the Thai's who more than likely knew the land was being sold to a foreigner now get their land back.Win,win situation

Gosh, I used to read that sort of thing in the ‘Phuket Gazette’ over 18 years ago – haven’t they learnt anything in the government in the meantime?

4 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Gosh, I used to read that sort of thing in the ‘Phuket Gazette’ over 18 years ago – haven’t they learnt anything in the government in the meantime?

That is an oft standard response: How many times have we heard THAT before?

Maybe one of the few things that could change that is the computer horsepower available now that can link disperse records that was not heretofore available.

Ukrainians? They are not particularly wealthy nor influential in Phuket.

You mean other than the Ukrainians who have been pilfering mbillions of $$ being sent by the US and EU, right? They're buying up real estate all over the world on our dime.

That's also the thing about big numbers like the population of (for example) India and Ukraine. Even if 90% of them are dirt poor, the small percentage that have money can still take over a small community.

19 minutes ago, JerryM said:

That is an oft standard response: How many times have we heard THAT before?

Maybe one of the few things that could change that is the computer horsepower available now that can link disperse records that was not heretofore available.

The other thing that has changed is the PM is anti foreigner and many of the government are too.

Many Thais are jealous of foreigners, we appear to them as unfairly rich and rude.

When it becomes socially acceptable to go after them, we start to understand how the NAZI’s did what they did. It would start in Thailand with local government officers feeling safe to go after foreigners.

The government very often gets property owned in a company when the foreigner dies either intestate or makes the mistaking of willing his property (instead of willing the shares in his company).

Note to those owning property in a company. In your will, leave the shares in the company, do not give any indication or even a suggestion of what the company owns.

4 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I agree. Especially for condos, as foreigners can have freehold/title for up to 49% of the building. I also could never understand leasing a house/land either. In effect, you're paying 30 years of rent up front. And could the owner still sell it some time down the road? I know about usufructs etc., but still TIT. A friend of mine (late) once said he would never buy any kind of residential property in Thailand. When I asked why, he said 'because one day 'they' may try to take it away from me'.

I have little issues with the leases but there is always risk and at least it is legal. Watching people go into these illegal condo ownership deals is insane IMO. It took me literally 1 minute of consideration 20 years ago to grasp the consequences. Sad, some good people are now in a bad place.

Also have no problem with buying homes if you understand there is a good chance you will lose it. I love my tiny home that has all the amenities I want. Great view, gym, tiny pool, ice bath, great view.... If I lost it, not a big deal because I didn't try to be the rich Farang and build a mansion that would just be dumb.

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3 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

There should be some bargains of property for sale in Phuket now

Only if your a Thai!

39 minutes ago, cynic1 said:

Only if your a Thai!

Or married to one, or have Thai children (guilty as charged).

8 hours ago, atpeace said:

Never understood why intelligent people went this route when buying a condo. Sure you get the condo but a little thought of the future anxiety of knowing it was done illegally might be a concern? I usually let things go after making a decision but spending millions of baht and just hoping that things wouldn't change and if they did you would be screwed is no way to live.

If the condo is in the 49% foreigner allocation there is no need to do anything dodgy at all. It's the bigger fish they are after, the villa 'owners' etc along with not so legal company setups. The run of the mill retiree with his little place of legal heaven shouldn't have much to worry about.

Not for a while anyway.

8 hours ago, impulse said:

You mean other than the Ukrainians who have been pilfering mbillions of $$ being sent by the US and EU, right? They're buying up real estate all over the world on our dime.

That's also the thing about big numbers like the population of (for example) India and Ukraine. Even if 90% of them are dirt poor, the small percentage that have money can still take over a small community.

That's a nice repeat of a Russian false information initiative. All that you have done is to repeat it without knowing if the claim is legitimate. Who are the Ukrainians who have been pilfering money and buying up the land in Phuket? Some of the people you may think are Ukrainians are actually ethnic Russians from the Ukraine war zones who do not consider themselves Ukrainian and who hold Russian passports now.

Yes there are an estimated 30,000-60,000 Russians living in Phuket depending upon the season. The Business times estimated that 15,000 did not have long term visas. Ihttps://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/russians-are-thriving-phuket-scene-feels-fleeting France 24, in November 2024, offered an estimate of 60,000 unauthorized long stay Russians in Thailand. In contrast there are only an estimated few thousand Ukrainians.

14 hours ago, J Branche said:

But the lawyer said it's done like this all the time, don't worry.

That's what I heard 3 years ago in a Pattaya firm. Been in Real Estate far to long to believe that non-sense.

The risk of a crackdown that is now happening, legal and financial losses made it way to risky for any sane person.

Anyone in Phuket watching the Real Estate market. Are there now many properties listed for sale trying to sell and get out before they are swept up in the crackdown.

I think that allot of relators felt safe as this has been going on for decades and the only people that had issues were ones that pissed someone off.

How long this will last we'll see. The typical Thailand move is make allot of noise and put on a big show for awhile and then it's back to business as usual.

I do admit this one it going on longer that I expected, so maybe this time they will actually do something....but not holding my breath!

15 hours ago, Jimbolkb said:

arrest

land department crooked officials taking bribes

and lawyers that setup these businesses

should not be difficult to find, all registered, right ?

Why stop there, what about immigration officials taking bribes from agents? Could certainly be on the cards