Thai Officials Raid Pattaya Nominees Scheme Assisting Foreigners
Thai authorities raided three Pattaya locations investigating a scheme where Thai nominees illegally held land and businesses on behalf of foreigners, targeting an international law firm and hotel suspected of violating the Alien Business A
On August 21, Deputy Interior Minister Worsit Liangprasit and Justice Minister Rutthapol Naorat coordinated a multi-agency raid across three locations in Pattaya and Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, to investigate the use of Thai nominees in land holdings and business operations controlled by foreigners. The operation, conducted under court-authorized search warrants, is part of government policy to crack down on illegal business practices, following similar investigations in Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Suratthani province, and Phuket.
Investigators identified Cozy Beach View Company Limited as potentially violating the Alien Business Act by using Thai nationals—some employed by an international law firm—as nominee shareholders. The first target was KT International Law and Business office in Pattaya, suspected of arranging shell company registrations. The second was Shilat Avenue Pattaya hotel, found to employ similar nominee structures with complex share transfers linked to Lotus Paradise Development Company and individuals with prior aluminum trade experience in Samut Sakhon province. The third location was the company's premises in Nong Phrueao, Bang Lamung, conducting actual business operations. Officials seized evidence to establish the scope and complexity of the nominee network.
