BANGKOK — 10 October 2026, Police raided 17 locations across four luxury housing developments as part of an investigation into an alleged foreign nominee network involving properties worth more than 6 billion baht and suspected links to Chinese scam gangs and online gambling operations.
National police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma led the operation, the eighth phase of a campaign targeting foreign nominee networks. Senior officers from Immigration Bureau, Metropolitan Police Bureau and police forensic units also took part.
Authorities issued 86 arrest warrants for foreign nationals and arrested 11 suspects — 10 Chinese nationals and one American — during the operation.
Investigators identified four housing developments in the Bang Na–Suan Luang, Bang Na–Outer Ring Road, Rama 9–Srinakarin and Krungthep Kreetha areas. They found 94 houses with land covering more than 33 rai, held through 95 companies allegedly using Thai nominees. The properties were valued at more than 6 billion baht.
Police said 96 people were identified as suspects, with investigators pursuing 95 cases. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) joined the operation because of the value of the assets involved.
Suspects linked to alleged crimes in China
Pol Gen Samran highlighted the case of a Chinese national identified as Li Chao, who first entered Thailand in 2017, before allegedly becoming involved in a murder case in China in which three people died. According to police, Li admitted to links with online gambling operations in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko in Myanmar.
Police said Li was unable to travel to other countries after the alleged crime and went to Cambodia to obtain a passport, reportedly paying US$85,000, or about 2.8 million baht. He later entered Thailand using a Cambodian passport and purchased houses and land through companies allegedly arranged by intermediary firms.
Investigators also found a Thai national associated with one of Li’s companies. The person told police that they had no knowledge of the details and had only applied for an online loan. Police suspect their documents may have been misused and said the matter would be investigated further.
Another suspect, identified as Chen, allegedly held passports from China, Turkey and Cambodia. Chinese authorities wanted him in connection with fraud and the alleged illegal transportation of people across borders in a 2024 case in Lishui, southern Zhejiang province. He reportedly fled to Thailand and bought a house.
A further suspect, identified as Jiang, held Chinese and St Kitts and Nevis passports and was wanted in China over an alleged online fraud case in Tunzhou, Henan province. Police said Chen and Jiang were business partners in companies holding houses and land in Krungthep Kreetha, where properties were valued at around 77 million to 98 million baht. Both were arrested under warrants.
A fourth suspect, identified as Liu, was a business partner in a company holding property in the Rama 9–Srinakarin development and was wanted by Chinese police over alleged online fraud.
A fifth suspect, identified as Bai, was linked to a company holding property in Krungthep Kreetha and was wanted internationally by Chinese authorities over alleged organised crime and online fraud.
The sixth suspect, identified as Huang, was a Chinese national and business partner in a company holding property in the Bang Na–Outer Ring Road development. He was wanted under a warrant issued by the Phra Khanong Criminal Court for alleged customs offences, involvement in a secret society and unlawful landholding by a foreigner.
Police said all six suspects had links to intermediary firms that allegedly arranged company registrations and property purchases. These firms operated in areas including Ram Inthra, Saphan Sung and Bang Phli.
Investigators also found that three or four houses in the Rama 9–Srinakarin development were being rented out for 350,000 baht a month, while other properties were rented for 50,000 baht and 40,000 baht a month.
156 Thai nationals identified as possible nominees
Police said repeated operations had prompted several suspects to flee Thailand. Some luxury houses had reportedly been left vacant, with no one collecting rent for more than three months.
In-depth investigations identified 156 Thai nationals who may have acted as nominees. Investigators are questioning them while seeking to ensure that those who may have been unwittingly involved receive fair treatment.
Several Thai nationals told police they had submitted copies of their national ID cards and house registration documents to apply for online loans, only to discover that law firms had allegedly used the documents to establish companies in their names without their knowledge. Some said they had never met or even known the foreign suspects.
Police said they would use digital footprints and other evidence to pursue law firms and accounting offices suspected of helping facilitate the scheme, including on charges of joint participation or supporting criminal activity.
Foreigners allegedly used Thailand as a safe haven
Pol Gen Samran said the suspects were not genuinely investing in businesses in Thailand but were allegedly using the country as a refuge and a place to hold assets.
The 94 houses targeted for seizure or asset freezing were located in four luxury developments in Bangkok. Investigators traced the purchases to networks of property agents and real estate businesses that connected foreign buyers with homes in Thailand.
Because foreigners generally cannot directly own land in Thailand, police said some buyers were allegedly referred to law firms that set up companies to circumvent restrictions. Under the arrangements described by investigators, Thai shareholders held 51% of a company while foreign shareholders held 49%. The house owners did not necessarily know one another, and police said not all properties were necessarily connected to the same network.
Investigators identified eight law firms or intermediary firms suspected of helping establish companies used to hold the properties. The firms were located in several parts of Bangkok.
Asked whether prominent lawyers or well-known figures were involved, Pol Gen Samran said investigators were still checking. He warned that law firms involved in such arrangements would face legal action.
Police said proceedings had already been initiated against the firms on suspicion of supporting the alleged offences. Investigations into the properties, the companies and the people involved are continuing, with authorities also coordinating with Chinese officials.