Marking the launch of the campaign, Region 8 Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit raided a car and motorbike business in Moo 7, Srisoonthorn, yesterday (Mar 19).
More than 100 vehicles were seized in the raid, joined by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, senior police officers and a Special Operations and Tactics Unit.
Lt Gen Surapong said that there were five such car and motorbike rental businesses under investigation, involving more than 1,000 vehicles.
The businesses are suspected of using nominee shareholders in setting up the companies to operate the businesses, he said.
One report shared by Region 8 Police last night marked that the foreigners involved in the rental businesses even had family members and friends arrive in Phuket to take part in operating the businesses.
Police gave no indication which nationalities were involved.
The foreign offenders entered Phuket as tourists then had companies set up with assistance from people “knowledgeable in the law”. The companies are set up with the correct proportion of foreign ownership, then shares are transferred to make the foreigners the majority shareholders, but not in the correct proportion as allowed by law, the report said.
Speaking at a meeting held before the raid yesterday, Lt Gen Surapong said that 614 foreigners had been arrested in the past six months, of whom 98 had been deported for committing crimes.
Lt Gen Surapong assured that police were taking action against foreigners engaged in illegal activities in Phuket.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub