According to DOPA, the raids formed part of the nationwide “Conquering the Gangsters” campaign launched under directives from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and DOPA Director-General Narucha Khosasilvilai (who publicly uses the name Narucha Kosacivilize).
In its report, DOPA confirmed that a special operations team from its central office was specifically deployed to Phuket for the raids.
According to Narucha, the raids came after investigations found several operators allegedly providing accommodation to Thai and foreign tourists through online booking platforms without obtaining hotel licences or complying with standards required under the Hotel Act 2004.
Officials conducted surveillance and gathered evidence before identifying three establishments in Karon and Rawai that were allegedly accepting room reservations and providing hotel-style accommodation services without authorisation, Narucha said.
After obtaining sufficient evidence, officers carried out simultaneous inspections at all three locations. Booking records, service information and other documents were seized for use as evidence in legal proceedings, he added.
However, Narucha did not identify the hotels raided, or disclose the names of those arrested, or explain why Phuket was selected for the operation.
Only one hotel, ’The Beachfront’, was identified in the photos published with the report.
Narucha said the raids formed part of a broader campaign aimed at suppressing corruption, maintaining public order and tackling businesses operating outside the law.
He said inspections and enforcement action against illegal hotels would continue nationwide, particularly in major tourism provinces.
Unlicensed accommodation operators not only violate the law, but also create unfair competition for legitimate businesses, undermine tourist safety standards and risk damaging Thailand’s tourism reputation, he said.
DOPA would continue enforcing the law strictly and consistently in order to protect public interests, maintain tourism standards and support sustainable economic growth, Narucha added.
BLOWBACK
The DOPA raids in Phuket were announced on the same day that Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee and People’s Party deputy leader Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn filed complaints with the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) and Election Commission seeking investigations into allegations that Narucha and other Interior Ministry officials interfered in the February national election.
The complaints stem from the ‘Helping the Blue’ controversy, in which critics allege state officials instructed officers to support the Bhumjaithai Party led by Prime Minister Anutin.
Mr Chalermpong, MP for Phuket Constituency 2, said the complaints were prompted by evidence allegedly revealed by former Phuket Provincial Palad Rungruang Thimabut, including a LINE chat conversation said to have taken place about one month before the election.
According to Mr Chalermpong, the chat contained election polling information and included a message allegedly sent by Mr Narucha stating, ‘Help Namngern’, followed by a response from the former official reading, “100%, sir.”
Narucha has publicly denied wrongdoing and maintained that the activities in question were legitimate government information campaigns.
The formal corruption complaint is the latest development in a widening political dispute that has already drawn national attention to Phuket following the transfer of senior provincial officials amid investigations linked to allegations of misconduct and interference in local administration.
The transfers all began with raids on illegally occupied land at Bang Tao and Freedom Beach, where illegal businesses operated serving tourists.
See also:
Phuket transfer row reaches Parliament as leaked chat faces questions
Governor warns officials amid Phuket Palad fallout
‘SET UP’: Transferred Phuket officials push back as Patong probe deepens