Interior Ministers Order Nationwide Crackdown on Nationality Fraud, Nominees

Interior Minister Phonphit Suwanchawi and Deputy Interior Minister Jesada Thaiset chaired the Ministry of Interior's Social Order Special Task Force Meeting No. 4/2026 at the Ministry of Interior on October 28, 2026. Attendees included Anuphong Sukkhamnit, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Internal Security; Wilasak Sittiwong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration; Police Lieutenant Colonel Singkham Kamyod, Director of the Office of Investigation and Legal Affairs; Anucha Rueangamornwattan, Director of the Local Administration Management Office; and Patcharaphat Sritanyanon, Director of the College of Local Administration, along with division directors and relevant staff.

Minister Phonphit expressed sincere gratitude to all officials for their dedication in every mission, despite obstacles, difficulties, and personal time sacrificed for field intelligence gathering — whether undercover operations or joint missions with the DOPA N.I.C.E. special operations unit that arrested suspects and expanded investigations into registration corruption. The ministers' personal field presence created a domino effect, galvanizing regional and provincial administration mechanisms into serious investigation and arrest actions. The approach centers on public benefit and adheres to the Prime Minister's policy of "Stop Naming, Look at Behavior," targeting wrongdoing directly without exempting any service provider or individual.

The key in every mission is to close the loop completely. If benefits are received or state officials are impersonated — regardless of ministry, department, or agency affiliation — they must be investigated, identified, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is now closely involved. Meanwhile, every province must tighten controls from the source on licenses for service establishments, hotels, firearms, and nationality matters; zoning or city plans cannot be used as excuses. If not correct from the start, permits must not be granted. The crackdown on foreign nominees covers all dimensions: entertainment venues, waste recycling businesses, and inspections of construction encroaching on forest or hillside areas.

Issues of abandoned children, nationality fraud, firearms regulation (Por 3 and Por 4 licenses), and cases involving foreign networks or the Chabad group acting illegally — when prosecuted, leading to revocation of citizenship or visas — the Department of Provincial Administration must coordinate with the DSI and relevant agencies to inspect and seize land assets held through nominees, returning them to Thai ownership as quickly as possible.

Minister Phonphit added that the task force will continue operations continuously within the Ministry of Interior's authority, emphasizing this does not encroach on other agencies' mandates. If Ministry of Interior officials commit wrongdoing, cases will be pursued immediately without protection. He noted that during field arrests, he often puts calls on speakerphone so administration staff hear the facts simultaneously, leading to solid confessions and case expansions that have caused many offenders to surrender witnesses, evidence, and financial trails. "The administration's field presence aims to inspire and encourage local officials to have the courage to enforce the law, because the governor is like the prime minister at the provincial level and must oversee everything."