A task force of over 250 security officers launched an extensive crackdown codenamed ‘Foreign Nominee Network Takedown Phase 5’, raiding 18 locations across Chiang Mai province to dismantle front businesses linked to 633 million baht in damages.
Pol Gen Samran Nualma, deputy commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police, led the coordinated operation on Monday following a massive digital audit.
Authorities analysed data from all 33,144 registered corporations in Chiang Mai, flagging 4,741 foreign-owned firms. A deep investigation by the Department of Business Development identified overlapping directors and shareholders, uncovering 1,591 individual nominee suspects.
Screening narrowed the targets down to 31 primary suspect companies. Among these, 16 firms were found to be using Thai nationals to mask foreign ownership, while 15 others illegally held land assets with foreign stakes exceeding the 50% legal limit. The networks illegally controlled 29 plots of land spanning over 3.2 hectares, with cumulative real estate assets valued at 633 million baht. Legal complaints have since been filed in 31 separate cases against 74 suspects.
Following the investigation, the Chiang Mai Provincial Court issued 22 arrest warrants and 18 search warrants, targeting a diverse international network of Thai, Myanmar, Indian, British and Chinese nationals. So far, eight suspects have been apprehended, including one Thai, two Chinese, two Indian and three Myanmar nationals, while police hunt for the remaining 14 individuals.
A key focus of the provincial crackdown was Saraphi district, where investigators uncovered blatant identity fraud. Four targeted nominee-owned corporations were found to be illegally using falsified Thai citizenship credentials to operate.
As part of a concurrent local initiative, named ‘Protect Chiang Mai’, authorities also swooped on four upscale properties in Saraphi district linked to Chinese capital networks. The raids resulted in the seizure of houses and land, along with company registrations, altogether valued at more than 23.6 million baht.
