Foreigners say they were advised into nominee scheme by law firms

Law enforcement conducted a raid on a network of property owners in Hua Hin, Thailand, on August 10, targeting individuals who were allegedly using a nominee scheme to legally acquire real estate. The operation, named "Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks Phase 6," saw over 200 police and government officials target properties in the Thap Thai subdistrict, with values ranging from 10 million to 20 million baht each.

Police identified six companies connected to the properties, all of which were registered with Thai nationals as nominees. As a result, arrest warrants were issued for 45 foreign nationals and summonses for 39 Thai nationals. During the search, officers apprehended 13 foreigners, including citizens from Britain, Italy, China, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Philippines, and the United States.

Some of the foreigners told authorities they had been advised to establish companies to hold the properties by law firms and accounting firms, believing the arrangements to be lawful.

During the operation, police seized various documents, including company registration papers, accounting records, computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. These materials will be analyzed to trace financial transactions and identify additional individuals connected to the alleged nominee network. This investigation is part of a larger nationwide effort targeting suspected nominee arrangements involving foreign investors in popular tourist destinations.

The previous five phases of the campaign targeted six provinces, including Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Chon Buri, and examined 233 plots of land and buildings valued at approximately 2.5 billion baht. So far, 133 arrest warrants have been approved, and 20 cases have resulted in convictions. Police vowed to continue targeting foreign investors and nominee networks suspected of operating businesses illegally in tourist areas across Thailand, investigating potential government corruption and assistance provided to those involved in alleged offenses.