The move follows a major multi-agency raid earlier this week targeting alleged encroachment and unauthorised fee collection at the popular beach, located within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve.
At a meeting held yesterday (Mar 19) at the Phuket Provincial Damrongtham Centre (Provincial ombudsman’s Office), Vice Governor Adul Chuthong chaired discussions with officials and complainants regarding land occupation and use in the Freedom Beach area.
Representatives from the Phuket Provincial Office, Karon Police, the Land Office, forestry officials and other relevant agencies were present.
During the meeting, a group of local residents submitted complaints and evidence relating to the purchase and occupation of land in the area. Some claimed they hold SorKor 1 documents – a form of land utilisation certificate – which they say entitles them to possess and use the land, including charging access fees to tourists crossing it to reach the beach.
Their claims directly challenge the basis of the recent enforcement action, which treated the area as protected forest land not subject to private ownership or commercial exploitation.
However, officials stressed that the legal status of the land remains under formal investigation.
Vice Governor Adul said Phuket authorities would ensure fairness to all parties, with the Phuket Provincial Land Office and forestry officials tasked with jointly verifying land title documents, usage rights and the exact boundaries of the plots in question.
“All complaints will be considered in accordance with legal procedures,” he said.
Forestry officials reiterated that the area falls within a protected forest reserve, where land cannot legally be bought, sold or transferred in the same way as private property. They confirmed that legal action is already underway against individuals identified during earlier inspections, while further inquiries into the new claims will be expedited.
Police added that any individuals who believe they have been defrauded through land transactions in the area may file formal complaints, with investigations to proceed based on available evidence.
The Damrongtham Centre will coordinate with all relevant agencies to monitor progress and ensure the investigation remains transparent and lawful, officials said.
Authorities also issued a public warning urging buyers to carefully verify land documents, particularly SorKor 1 certificates, before entering into transactions, noting that such documents do not necessarily confer full ownership rights.
The renewed dispute comes after a large-scale operation on Tuesday (Mar 17) saw more than 100 officers descend on the Freedom Beach access route following complaints of widespread encroachment and the charging of B300 entrance fees to tourists.
During that operation, several individuals alleged to have been collecting fees were detained, and multiple незакон structures were identified and dismantled. Officials also discovered signs claiming private ownership within the forest reserve, along with evidence of further development deeper inside the area.
Authorities have maintained that Freedom Beach and its access routes lie within protected national forest land and are not legally subject to private control or profit-making activities.
Officials have pledged to continue inspections, remove illegal structures and pursue legal action against offenders as part of ongoing efforts to reclaim encroached forest land and protect public access to natural resources.
The outcome of the land verification process is expected to determine whether the claims by local operators hold any legal standing, or whether further enforcement action will follow.