BANGKOK, Thailand – The Thai government is intensifying its crackdown on nominee businesses and mule accounts, uncovering financial damages exceeding 12.5 billion baht.
Authorities are investigating over 200,000 suspected mule accounts and have prosecuted 820 cases linked to illicit financial activities. More than 20 government agencies are involved in the nationwide operation, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, provincial administrations, immigration authorities, customs offices, and the Royal Thai Police.
Officials are targeting Thai nationals acting as proxies for foreign businesses to bypass the 1999 Foreign Business Act. Many of these unregistered foreign-owned operations involve substandard imported goods and illegal business practices.
Between September and December 2024, authorities prosecuted 783 nominee businesses, uncovering financial damages of 11.78 billion baht. In January 2025, another 37 cases were identified, adding 710 million baht in losses. Most cases involve tourism-related businesses in Bangkok, Phuket, and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Other sectors under investigation include online marketplaces, construction materials, accounting firms, logistics companies, and real estate operations. Many of these illegal enterprises are linked to nationals from Europe and Asia.
The Anti-Online Crime Operations Center has flagged 204,000 mule accounts in January alone. These accounts, tied to more than 1,000 entities, involve both Thai and foreign individuals suspected of illegal financial activities. The Department of Business Development has forwarded these cases to enforcement agencies, including the Central Investigation Bureau, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and the Department of Special Investigation for further legal action.
The government is ramping up proactive enforcement nationwide. Sweeping inspections aim to dismantle nominee businesses, crack down on illegal financial networks, and remove substandard imports. Authorities stress that these efforts are critical to maintaining economic stability and ensuring fair business competition in Thailand. (NNT)
