4 Arrested in Phuket Foreign Nominee International School Crackdown

Thairath•Society•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Phuket police arrested four individuals and took action against three companies for operating international schools using Thai nominees to bypass foreign business laws.

•Four suspects, consisting of two foreigners and two Thai nationals, were arrested on August 5, 2026.
•Three companies operating as international schools were found to be using Thai nominees to evade legal restrictions.
•The operation was carried out by Chalong Police Station under the direction of Phuket Provincial Police.
•The suspects are being prosecuted under the Foreign Business Act 1999.

Overview

•Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinloet Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, assigned Pol. Col. Surasak Jaidee, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, to investigate foreign business operations in the area.
•Investigation teams from Chalong Police Station gathered evidence regarding business operations in Chalong and Rawai sub-districts.
•Three companies operating as international schools were suspected of using Thai nationals as nominees to avoid restrictions under the Foreign Business Act 1999.
•On August 5, 2026, Pol. Lt. Col. Chayakon Tangsakul and investigation teams executed arrest warrants and apprehended four suspects.
•The four suspects—two foreigners and two Thai nationals—were sent to investigators for legal proceedings.
•Chalong Police Station is currently expanding the investigation to other related individuals and legal entities.
•Chalong Police Station cautioned that using Thai nationals to hold shares or register companies to evade the Foreign Business Act 1999 is illegal.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

Chalong Police Station(สภ.ฉลอง)

The police station that conducted the investigation and arrests of the nominee network.

Phuket Provincial Police(ตำรวจภูธรจังหวัดภูเก็ต)

The provincial police force leading the crackdown on illegal foreign business operations.

Royal Thai Police(สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The national police agency whose policy drives the crackdown on nominee networks.

Provincial Police Region 8(กองบัญชาการตำรวจภูธรภาค 8)

The regional police headquarters overseeing the crackdown on nominee networks.

Person

Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinloet Sukhum(พล.ต.ต.สินเลิศ สุขุม)

Commander of Phuket Provincial Police who ordered the investigation into foreign businesses.

Pol. Col. Surasak Jaidee(พ.ต.อ.สุระศักดิ์ ใจดี)

Superintendent of Chalong Police Station tasked with investigating foreign businesses in the area.

Pol. Lt. Col. Chayakon Tangsakul(พ.ต.ท.ชยกร ตั้งสกุล)

Investigation Inspector of Chalong Police Station who led the arrest operation on August 5, 2026.

Place

Chalong Sub-district(ตำบลฉลอง)

One of the areas where the investigation into foreign business operations was conducted.

Rawai Sub-district(ตำบลราไวย์)

One of the areas where the investigation into foreign business operations was conducted.

Phuket Province(จังหวัดภูเก็ต)ℹ️

The province where the illegal international schools were operating.

Law

Foreign Business Act 1999(พระราชบัญญัติการประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว พ.ศ. 2542)

The law that the suspects and companies violated by using nominees to avoid business restrictions.