The Interior Ministry has seized 126 rai of land worth more than 2.1 billion baht in Krabi after uncovering an alleged foreign nominee scheme involving a British national.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said on Saturday the operation was conducted on Friday in Koh Lanta district, saying the land seizure followed an investigation into suspected illegal foreign ownership through Thai nominee shareholders.
He said the probe found that a British national identified only as "Alain" had established three companies -- Phuket Lanta House Co, Sky Global Net Co and Gulval Properties Co -- using Thai shareholding structures that appeared to comply with legal limits. However, investigators say the firms were linked through circular cross-shareholdings, giving him effective control of 99.87% of Gulval Properties.
The network acquired 22 plots covering more than 126 rai on Koh Por in Koh Lanta district, with an estimated value of 2.146 billion baht, before offering the land for sale online.
The ministry has frozen the land pending legal proceedings. The Department of Lands will investigate the ownership documents before transferring the case to Krabi province for compulsory disposal, a process expected to take between six months and one year.
Police will expand the investigation to determine whether foreign funds financed the purchases. Those found to have acted as nominees or facilitated the scheme will face legal action.
Mr Polapee said the investigation would also examine whether state employees were involved. He added that inspections would continue nationwide.
Officials later inspected two hotels in Krabi suspected of operating without licences. One was built on land with questionable title documents, while another was approved as a residential building but had been converted into a hotel.
