Authorities in Phuket are investigating over 100 companies with total revenues of 5 billion baht that allegedly used naturalised Thai citizens as nominee shareholders. This is part of a broader crackdown on 361 firms suspected of circumventing foreign ownership laws.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has set August 30 as the deadline for all mobile users to complete SIM identity verification. After that date, users who have not complied will be unable to make outgoing calls. The measure targets mule SIMs and fraud, and applies to every subscriber, including children using parent-registered SIMs.
Thailand's Central Partnership and Company Registration Office issued Order No. 2/2569, effective August 1, 2026, requiring additional documents for registering or amending partnerships and limited companies with foreign investors or signatory directors. Applicants must now submit a capital investment explanation form with three-month bank statements from Thai partners/shareholders and company accounts to prevent nominee structures. Applications filed before the effective date follow previous rules.
Thailand's crackdown on foreign nominee businesses has extended to Krabi, with over 1,000 companies placed on a hot list for investigation. The Deputy Interior Minister has ordered a money trail probe, signaling heightened scrutiny of foreign-owned or controlled firms doing business in the area.
The Thai government reiterated that cannabis buds remain strictly regulated and require a valid medical prescription for purchase or sale, clarifying that the plant is not freely available. Smoking on business premises, online sales, vending machines, and advertising are banned, and illegal export carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines. Authorities are stepping up enforcement under the controlled herbs notification, limiting sales to a 30-day supply per prescription.
The Cabinet approved draft regulations creating a formal deportation process for foreign nationals who violate immigration laws, work illegally, or commit serious crimes. The regulations identify six grounds for removal and aim to speed up deportation procedures.