Thais Fear Gray Money And Nominees As Major Threat
A Thai poll found overwhelming concern about foreign residents' illegal activities, with 94% viewing money laundering as highly dangerous and 82% citing the use of Thai nominees to hold land as a major threat.
The Nida Poll survey center at the National Institute of Development Administration released findings on July 19, 2024, regarding "foreigners breaking the law," surveying 1,310 people aged 18 and older across all regions and income levels between July 13-15, 2024, about unlawful behavior by foreign residents in Thailand.
When asked about the dangers of foreign residents' illegal activities in Thailand, respondents ranked the following threats:
1. Foreign investment in illegal businesses or money laundering operations: 94.05% said highly dangerous, 5.42% fairly dangerous, 0.30% not very dangerous, 0.15% no answer, and 0.08% not dangerous.
2. Hiring Thai nominees to hold land ownership: 82.14% said highly dangerous, 14.81% fairly dangerous, 2.14% not very dangerous, 0.76% not dangerous, and 0.15% no answer.
3. Hiring Thais as legal guardians for foreign children to obtain Thai nationality: 81.76% said highly dangerous, 14.20% fairly dangerous, 3.05% not very dangerous, 0.76% not dangerous, and 0.23% no answer.
4. Operating hub businesses where foreign investors monopolize and control all transactions within their own ethnic networks, depriving Thais of income: 81.29% said highly dangerous, 15.65% fairly dangerous, 1.91% not very dangerous, 0.92% no answer, and 0.23% not dangerous.
5. Hiring Thai nominees to open businesses or hold majority shares: 81.21% said highly dangerous, 15.88% fairly dangerous, 2.37% not very dangerous, 0.46% not dangerous, and 0.08% no answer.
6. Large-scale settlement creating foreign communities or towns: 77.48% said highly dangerous, 17.79% fairly dangerous, 3.89% not very dangerous, 0.61% not dangerous, and 0.23% no answer.
7. Foreigners working beyond their authorized work permits: 72.98% said highly dangerous, 23.13% fairly dangerous, 3.51% not very dangerous, 0.23% not dangerous, and 0.15% no answer.
8. Foreigners entering occupations reserved for Thais, such as driving, tour guiding, or conducting tours: 65.42% said highly dangerous, 27.86% fairly dangerous, 5.65% not very dangerous, 0.69% not dangerous, and 0.38% no answer.
