Politics
Thai Government Reports Crackdown on Nominee Businesses and Illegal Assets
The Thai government has announced the seizure of over 20 billion baht in assets linked to illegal nominee businesses and identity fraud, vowing to prosecute any officials involved.
On September 18, 2026, Ekkapob Pianpises, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that the government is intensifying its campaign against illegal nominee structures, illicit capital, and identity theft. According to the report from Khaosod Online, authorities have successfully seized assets valued at over 20 billion baht. The initiative involves cross-agency cooperation to monitor financial transactions, land ownership, and corporate shareholding structures.
Government officials emphasized that the crackdown targets those using Thailand as a base for criminal activity or illegal land ownership. Proactive measures, including stricter scrutiny of corporate registrations by the Ministry of Commerce, have reportedly led to a 70% reduction in high-risk company registrations. Currently, approximately 2,100 companies have been identified as potential nominee entities, with over 10,000 others under further investigation. Additionally, the Ministry of Interior is reviewing land holdings linked to these entities.
For residents and investors, this signifies a more rigorous regulatory environment regarding business registration and property acquisition. While the government maintains that it welcomes legitimate foreign investment, the strict enforcement of laws against nominee arrangements is ongoing. It remains to be confirmed how these investigations will impact existing business operations and whether further legal actions will be taken against specific government officials suspected of involvement in these networks.
