The operation, the second such recent visit, was part of an ongoing initiative to prevent and reduce corruption related to land encroachment in the area, said an official report of the investigation.
Leading the inspection was NACC Phuket Director Suwat Saowarun, alongside officers from the NACC Region 8 office.
The team collaborated with the ‘STRONG-Sufficiency Economy Anti-Corruption Club’, the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), the Phuket Marine Office, Thalang District officials and representatives from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) to monitor compliance and enforce regulations regarding public land use.
The latest inspection followed a previous visit on Jan 22 after the NACC received reports from civil society organisations about unauthorised structures being erected on public land at Bang Tao Beach, said the report.
During the initial visit, officials discovered various unauthorised constructions, including private businesses and hotel infrastructure that encroached on public land, the report said.
On the second visit yesterday, authorities found that some structures identified in January had been partially demolished, leaving only their base foundations.
However, additional unauthorised structures had since been built, including restaurants and large stone walls erected by hotels, allegedly to mitigate wave impact.
Some hotel operators had also built relaxation areas encroaching on the beach, restricting public access and obstructing pathways.
In response, the NACC Phuket office issued recommendations for relevant agencies to take corrective measures, the report noted.
Vinyl signs were set up to notify business operators that the areas in question are public property. Officials ordered the removal of all unauthorised structures, including hotel-placed stone walls and obstructive barriers.
The Phuket branch of Isoc (the political arm of the Royal Thai military) reinforced these directives, emphasising the need for businesses to comply with public land regulations.
Local authorities, including the Cherng Talay OrBorTor and Thalang District officials announced plans to formally notify landowners and business operators to remove unauthorised structures.
Failure to comply will result in legal action, including forced demolition of encroaching properties.
Additionally, landowners will be required to provide official title deeds and tax records to clarify property boundaries.
For properties without clear title deeds or cases where land encroachment is confirmed, authorities have pledged to proceed with demolition independently. If landowners fail to act after receiving official notifications, enforcement measures will be taken against them.
However, the official report gave no explanation of why Cherng Talay OrBorTor, currently led by OrBorTor Chief Manoch Punchalad, allowed such constructions to be built on public land in the first place.
Regardless, the Phuket Marine Office has been tasked with identifying areas that constitute waterway encroachment.
These areas will be logged in coordination with the Cherng Talay OrBorTor and Thalang District officials to ensure compliance with regulations governing public coastal access.
During discussions with business operators in the Bang Tao Beach area, most expressed their willingness to cooperate, the report noted ‒ without mentioning the legal consequences if they refused or failed to cooperate.
Many stated that they would review their properties and demolish any structures found to be encroaching on public land, the report said.
Officials conducting the inspection yesterday emphasised that a thorough review of title deeds would be conducted to determine the legality of existing structures. In cases where businesses have been built on public land without authorisation, landowners and operators will receive formal notices requiring them to dismantle the structures.
The NACC Phuket office has instructed relevant agencies to continue investigating and enforcing land-use regulations. The focus remains on ensuring public access to the beach while addressing encroachment in a legally compliant manner.
Further actions include placing warning signs against illegal construction, organising meetings with landowners to clarify land ownership and conducting detailed surveys to delineate public and private land.
Officials at the inspection affirmed their commitment to creating sustainable solutions for land-use disputes while ensuring compliance with anti-corruption measures. The NACC and its partner agencies will continue to work together to uphold the integrity of public land and maintain fair and legal land-use practices in Phuket, the official report assured.
Further inspections and legal proceedings are expected as authorities push forward with their efforts to protect Bang Tao Beach from encroachment, the report concluded.