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.

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.

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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3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

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.

That hotline is a golden opportunity for anyone to call and report on a neighbour they don't like. But it's also an opportunity for anyone to report on foreigners running an established company offering services - like a competitor.

Nominee companies for property purchase have been around for decades. But was this crackdown initiated by Anutin? He has a history of making negative and disparaging comments about foreigners. At least it's happening during his watch.

These are advertised on facebook all the time. I nearly bought one but I just felt the arrangement for ownership a bit loose and thought they were using a loophole in the laws. I’m so glad now I followed my instincts. The companies selling these need to be prosecuted and money returned to the scammed buyers!

25 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

That hotline is a golden opportunity for anyone to call and report on a neighbour they don't like. But it's also an opportunity for anyone to report on foreigners running an established company offering services - like a competitor.

Nominee companies for property purchase have been around for decades. But was this crackdown initiated by Anutin? He has a history of making negative and disparaging comments about foreigners. At least it's happening during his watch.

I think we will see in the coming months and years the investigation widen- and many ordinary folk will lose their homes

A deal will be offered I suspect on the lines- sign over your home OR we prosecute and will confiscate your home anyway!

6 minutes ago, L- Lifeline said:

ordinary folk

when people act illegally to circumvent laws
they are usually called criminals
just because "everyone does it" does not make it legal
have seen this coming for many many years
and yes you will lose your home
if you have property or land of significant value
its time to put it all in the wife's name (and rent it from her for 30 years if needed)
or sell it and rent, but now this is happening do not expect a good price

A foreigner should be allowed to own one home and up to two rai of land. This would not have a negative effect on the market, and could end up helping to improve the Thai economy a bit.

These rather draconian investigations will simply deter foreigners from buying property in Thailand and further depress the market. It's simply not smart policy, and they're going after expats who are contributing to society on many levels. Anytime the laws are incredibly stupid people will try to find a way around them.

Going after the Israelis on Koh Phangan, that's a completely different story, when the proliferation of foreign owned businesses impedes on the local competition.

Notice it's the foreigners being arrested - while the Thais are only being "summoned".

But it's NOT possible for a foreigner to set up a nominee company by themselves and arrange all the paperwork (to set up the company and do the balance sheets and meeting reports), then purchase a property and have it legally registered.

But the people who actually do all that are NOT the ones being investigated for some reason.

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.

Just like all those companies that specialize in setting up nominee companies for foreigners specifically so they can (illegally) buy "land". They KNOW it's illegal, do it anyways, and apparently the police just ignore it and arrest the foreigners instead.

Seems a bit hokey to me.

Sadly the foreigners are the victims, but they were misinformed by the lawyers and sellers. Than you can't blame the foreigners for violation of laws, but those who advised them should be prosecuted.. If you believe that what you buy or rent or whatever is good and you did your job and a lawyer says there are no problems, let these people alone. Always in all scams there are Thais involved as I stated long before. So they can't be left out, and should be punished, as the foreigners mostly handle in trusting them.

Thailand was a good country to retire??? I am wondering if people will say the same with articles and actions like this

Edited August 11Aug 11 by ikke1959

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

They (the foreigners) told police they believed this meant their ownership was lawful.

Just like their one year retirement extension via agent saying they live in a province they have never been to

15 minutes ago, 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.

Yes, in fact there is something along those lines happening now, but more low key.

Anyone driving in from Suvarnabhumi Airport will remember seeing a big billboard that said "Buddha is not for decoration" clearly aimed at incoming tourists. In fact it's illegal to export Buddhist images without an export license. Yet the tourists are the target. What about all the Thai merchants selling Buddha items and images? Shouldn't they be charged?

23 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Sadly the foreigners are the victims, but they were misinformed by the lawyers and sellers. Than you can't blame the foreigners for violation of laws, but those who advised them should be prosecuted..

Agree to a point - many might have been naive. But a lot of people knew the nominee thing was illegal but did it anyway - because so many others had done it - and they wanted to 'own' a house. It was a gamble but many figured they get away with it.

I remember these discussions and debates taking place years ago on this platform and that of its predecessor. But as someone here has said, this will really dampen the retirement market if owning a house was the selling point and now, scared off, they will go somewhere else.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by ronnie50

7 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Yes, in fact there is something along those lines happening now, but more low key.

Anyone driving in from Suvarnabhumi Airport will remember seeing a big billboard that said "Buddha is not for decoration" clearly aimed at incoming tourists. In fact it's illegal to export Buddhist images without an export license. Yet the tourists are the target. What about all the Thai merchants selling Buddha items and images? Shouldn't they be charged?

It's not illegal to sell Buddha images to tourists, it is illegal to export them, and the shop seller can not know what you gonna do with your purchase.

In regard to the nominee companies, I'm sure those foreigners knew it was not legal, for sure I knew it wasn't shortly after I arrived here more than 30 years ago.

But they proceeded anyway, because they had the same attitude that has been posted on this forum for years, that they will never come after them.

Well those people seem very quiet for the last month or so.

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

It's not illegal to sell Buddha images to tourists, it is illegal to export them, and the shop seller can not know what you gonna do with your purchase.

Then the amphur should make the shop seller post a warning that it is illegal to export any of the images you buy from his shop. I wonder why that doesn't happen?

51 minutes ago, L- Lifeline said:

I think we will see in the coming months and years the investigation widen- and many ordinary folk will lose their homes

A deal will be offered I suspect on the lines- sign over your home OR we prosecute and will confiscate your home anyway!

Each house is given 6-12 months for the owners to sell. So they might get their money back.

The problem might be, who are now going to buy these houses. Seems it must be Thais, or foreigners' girlfriends or wives.. And we all know how badly that can turn out.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by thaibreaker

4 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Then the amphur should make the shop seller post a warning that it is illegal to export any of the images you buy from his shop. I wonder why that doesn't happen?

Because how could you sell something to a tourist that they can’t take home?

5 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Each house is given 6-12 months for the owners to sell. So they might get their money back.

The OP says there have been 20 convictions already. Have you read the rulings, and is that included, or is just something you base on the inheritance laws?

I completely understand the foreigners point of view.

Real estate is a hedge against inflation.

However the truth is you can only live in one of your homes at a time. Having more homes won't make them happier.

It's physically impossible to live in more than one villa at the same time.

Science! 😄

.

.

These buyers are all 100% guilty, just like the people who use agents for their visa extensions without money in the bank. They claim to be naive, but I don't believe that. Now the lawyers are being pointed at as the culprits, but of course they are complicit, yet they were also used by the foreigners to devise loopholes. No prison sentences, but revoke the lawyers' licenses, confiscate foreign assets, and deport and ban the foreigners. People never learn and ruin it for people with good intentions.

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

The OP says there have been 20 convictions already. Have you read the rulings, and is that included, or is just something you base on the inheritance laws?

Actually, has anyone seen details of the convictions?

I guess the conviction wouldn't necessarily include sentencing. Just guilty, for now?

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

The OP says there have been 20 convictions already. Have you read the rulings, and is that included, or is just something you base on the inheritance laws?

It's included, and what the arrested foreigners and Thai summoned are told. The houses are not confiscated before they've been on the sales market for a minimum of 6 months.

We've just had this crackdown with subsequently arrests at the village (and villages close) where I live.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by thaibreaker

My understanding is that a principle of Thai law is personal accountability. No matter what the advice you were given, it's the person's own accountability to check.

Not in Thailand, but similar happened to me once. An ex-employer's HR department told me very clearly that I didn't need an employment visa to work in a country I'd been sent to do contracted work in. My reading of the rules was that I did. When I told that ex-employer that I needed to leave that country as I believed I was working illegally I was told that I'd be fired if I did. Surprise surprise, I got arrested and charged. No matter what, it was my fault. The evidence I had ensured that I stayed out of jail, and the judge told the employer to pay my fine. Then that employer got fired off of every contract they had in that country as they'd broken those contracts with their behaviour, then I sued them and won of course, then I got asked to take over all of those contracts as the customer still needed the work done and by that time I was 'legal'. Karma was truly sweet.

I really hope that those who got bad/illegal advice get their money back from the cheats and scammers who advised them. I'm not confident of that, but I still hope.

1 hour ago, Brettoj said:

These are advertised on facebook all the time. I nearly bought one but I just felt the arrangement for ownership a bit loose and thought they were using a loophole in the laws. I’m so glad now I followed my instincts. The companies selling these need to be prosecuted and money returned to the scammed buyers!

Any foreigner should know that fake shareholders isn't legal.

Unless it's under IEAT or BOI section 96 or 27, everyone with half a brain knows foreigners can not own land in Thailand. So when someone tells you "no, it's ok, trust me" you are either a fool, or willfully complicit in fraud. And ignorance of the laws is no excuse. That's why smart people hire their own independent lawyers.

3 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

My understanding is that a principle of Thai law is personal accountability. No matter what the advice you were given, it's the person's own accountability to check.

Interesting story. I started doing legal research for oil company computer systems clients going back 50 years when you actually had to sit in a law library to do it.

So it just irks me when someone says -- or insists -- that something is legal when it obviously isn't.

Here is an Al Jazeera story from June. I am answering my own question. It is the initiative on Anutin.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/6/3/thailand-cracks-down-on-foreign-companies-using-fig-leaf-of-local-ownership

When in doubt read the actual laws as written. Do not do as others do except at your own peril, whether it's property/business nominees or visa agents, it's illegal and a game of Russian Roulette. Rules change, especially when they are the unwritten kind.

8 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Do not do as others do except at your own peril, whether it's property/business nominees or visa agents,

So maybe you'll hear: But the Visa agent said it was legal.

7 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Here is an Al Jazeera story from June. I am answering my own question. It is the initiative on Anutin.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/6/3/thailand-cracks-down-on-foreign-companies-using-fig-leaf-of-local-ownership

The article says it all.. Thailand want to get rid of the foreigners.. so why always promote Thailand as the best country to live in, to retire and why are foreign businesses urged to make businesses here?? It should be . stay away, better places to retire, work and make businesses. Even an holiday you have to reconsider as all illegal things Thai people do you can't do, and even talking in public transport is being fined.. Sadly xenophobic and conservative behavior for what?? The economy will go down and the country goes back and so the income of the locals... why only chase the foreigners as there are a lot of locals being guilty of illegal businesses too..

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

Notice it's the foreigners being arrested - while the Thais are only being "summoned

Notice that it's probably because the foreigners are likely to flee, the nominee Thais are very unlikely to leave the country and the nominees offences are considerably less serious than the foreigners' trying circumvent the law in order to own Thai land.