Billion-baht business bust: 2 Chinese arrested in Phuket
In a massive crackdown on illegal business operations, two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket for using Thai nominees to conceal ownership of multiple lucrative ventures, including restaurants, international schools, hotels, car rentals, condominiums, and luxury villas.
The duo’s investments were valued at approximately 1 billion baht, with 4.1 million baht in cash seized during the arrests for further investigation, according to Police Major General Pornchai Khajornklin, Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police.
The arrests were part of a sweeping operation aimed at dismantling networks of foreign investors unlawfully operating businesses in Thailand.
Police uncovered an intricate scheme involving an accounting firm suspected of falsifying documents to hide foreign ownership. The investigation was ordered by the National Police Chief Police General Kittirat Phanphet, with the Investigation Division of Region 8 Police collaborating with Phuket Provincial Police to target businesses violating Thai business laws.
Police raided 29 locations across seven provinces, including food and beverage outlets, international schools, hotels, car rentals, condominiums, housing estates, and accounting offices believed to be helping conceal illegal foreign-owned businesses.
The crackdown resulted in the arrest of 23 suspects, including individuals with outstanding warrants under the Alien Business Act 1999.
During the raids, officers also found two Chinese nationals in the kingdom with expired permits and two Myanmar nationals working in violation of Thai labour laws. Police discovered two undeclared lion cubs in possession without proper permits, raising questions about possible wildlife trafficking.
Although the police did not identify the specific businesses involved, they did not confirm whether the two Chinese nationals were linked to The Glass House Cafe and Space on Ratsada-Anusorn Road.
Notably, the owners of The Glass House Cafe have been caught as repeat offenders in illegal possession of lion cubs but have faced no publicly known consequences so far.
The crackdown is part of a larger campaign ordered by Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Thana Chuawong, who also heads the Center for the Suppression of Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration.
The operation targeted 29 locations within Region 8’s jurisdiction, covering Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Sri Thammarat, reported The Phuket News.
Police discovered that the suspects exploited legal loopholes to set up nominee businesses, evading taxes and engaging in unfair competition, significantly impacting Thai business owners.
As the investigation continues, police are determined to dismantle the illegal business network and bring those involved to justice.
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