Thirteen foreigners were arrested on Monday when police raided a housing and pool villa estate in Hua Hin, after they were found using Thai nominee shareholders to buy properties for them.
The arrests were made in the sixth phase of the nationwide crackdown on nominees.
Police said Monday's operation involved more than 200 officers and targeted a housing and pool villa complex in tambon Thap Tai in Hua Hin. Houses in the unnamed estate sold for 10-20 million baht.
The arresting officers had 45 court arrest warrants for foreigners and summonses for 39 Thai nationals also involved.
They searched 15 premises and found six companies with Thai shareholders holding land on behalf of foreign nationals.
The 13 arrested foreigners consisted of four Chinese nationals, three Britons, an Italian, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, an Austrian, a Filipino and an American.
According to police, the suspects said they wanted to own real estate in Thailand and had each been advised by law and accounting firms to set up a property-holding company. They believed their ownership was lawful.
However, the companies in question had not conducted any actual business, police said. This was consistent with statements given by the Thai individuals listed as shareholders, who said they were merely nominees for the foreigners.
The crackdown launched early this year has previously covered key tourist destinations in Surat Thani, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai.
