Thailand’s Department of Business Development Reaffirms: Crackdown on “Nominee/Shell Companies” Is on the Right Track and Will Continue Proactively

Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of Commerce, stated that

since the implementation of “4 Orders and 2 Notifications” on January 1, 2026,

measures to combat “nominee/shell companies” (entities used for fraud or illegal activities) have shown significant results.

📊 Results of the Measures

• Jan 1 – Sep 30, 2025: 478 cases identified

• Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025: reduced to 71 cases

• Jan 1 – Jan 24, 2026 (after new measures): only 1 case found

📌 This demonstrates that strengthening both pre-registration and post-registration checks

effectively prevents misuse of companies for illegal activities.

🤝 Multi-Agency Cooperation

On January 27, 2026,

the DBD held a joint meeting with key agencies, including:

Royal Thai Police

Anti-Cyber Crime Center

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)

Thai Bankers’ Association

Financial institutions

to discuss measures to prevent and suppress nominee companies and mule accounts.

📌 Key Discussion Points

Strengthening pre- and post-registration verification

Establishing measures for dormant companies that may be misused

Strictly monitoring abnormal cases of multiple companies registered under the same address

Ongoing surveillance of entities with suspicious status

⚠️ Warning to Businesses: Be Cautious When Selling “Shell Companies”

The DBD warns that companies that are inactive and not properly dissolved,

but are sold through social media,

may be acquired by criminals and used as nominee/shell companies

for illegal purposes.

Although the measures have been effective,

authorities believe criminals may adapt their methods.

Therefore, government agencies will continue strengthening cooperation

and implementing stricter, proactive enforcement

to prevent illegal networks from re-emerging

and harming society and legitimate businesses.

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