The Royal Thai Police are intensifying investigations into alleged nominee land holdings by foreigners on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in Surat Thani, a practice that may threaten economic security, especially in key tourist areas.
Pol Lt Gen Yingyos Thepjamnong, assistant commissioner, said authorities are working closely with Surat Thani provincial officials, the Land Department, the Department of Business Development and security agencies to scrutinise the cases.
Preliminary findings indicate some Israeli nationals on the islands face multiple charges, including operating car rental businesses, working without permits and conducting tour operations without authorisation.
Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said all probes would be conducted transparently, fairly and in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, two Israeli tourists were arrested with fake US dollar bills totalling US$5,653 (184,860 baht) after they exchanged some of them for Thai baht at Samui airport.
Pol Lt Col Phanumat Chukuea, detective inspector-general at Bo Phut police station, said Matan Moshe, 25, and Omer Sarusi, 28, were detained on Saturday under warrants issued by the Samui Court.
The two separately exchanged $50 notes at a Government Savings Bank kiosk at Samui airport last Monday, police said. Mr Moshe exchanged five notes for 7,280 baht, while Mr Sarusi exchanged 10 notes for 14,560 baht, police said, adding the GSB later confirmed the notes were counterfeit.
Bo Phut police arrested the pair at their accommodation in tambon Bophut and found 48 $100 notes, 17 $50 notes and three $1 notes in their possession. The suspects told police they had brought the US dollar bills from Israel and were unaware they were fake. They face charges of forging and possessing counterfeit foreign banknotes.