Phuket Immigration, led by Pol Col Kriangkrai Ariyaying, along with officers from Phuket Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division and Phuket Tourist Police, carried out coordinated raids across the province, said an official report of the campaign.
The operation resulted in the arrest of four Chinese nationals and seven Myanmar nationals on various charges.
The four Chinese nationals were detained for offenses including overstaying visas (one individual by 1,317 days), entering Thailand without permission and operating businesses in sectors restricted to Thai nationals.
The seven Myanmar nationals were arrested for working without valid permits or exceeding their employment rights.
Phuket Immigration emphasised their commitment to maintaining law and order by addressing illegal business operations and unauthorised employment, and urged the public to report suspicious activities to help protect local businesses and the tourism industry.
The operation follows directives from National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet and Pol Lt Gen. Phanumas Boonlert, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, noted the report.
Officials are intensifying efforts to curb illegal foreign business activities, transnational crimes and unauthorised employment in Thailand. The crackdown also aims to prevent foreign-owned nominee businesses from unfairly competing with Thai enterprises, the report added.
In its report of the crackdown, Bangkok Post cited Phuket Provincial Police Chief Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum as saying that Immigration Police, Tourist Police and local officials were pursuing five more nominee cases in Phuket involving Russian, Iranian, Australian and Chinese nationals,
Additionally, seven foreigners were arrested for working without permits ‒ one Australian and six Myanmar nationals, said the report.
The announcement of 11 more people arrested in Phuket in the nominee crackdown follows Region 8 Police announcing on Tuesday (Feb 25) that two Chinese nationals had been arrested in Phuket with investments valued at approximately B1 billion.
The Chinese duo had used nominees to conceal ownership of multiple businesses, including restaurants, international schools, hotels, car rentals, condominiums and luxury villas.
In making the arrests, officers also seized B4.1 million in cash for further investigation.