The figures were presented during the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Police Administration Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, chaired by Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters.
According to officials, Phuket has 32,024 registered legal entities with a combined registered capital of B240.6 billion. Of those, 11,078 companies, or 34.59%, have foreign shareholdings.
The largest concentrations of foreign-owned businesses are in Phuket Town (6,073 companies), followed by Thalang (2,670) and Kathu (2,335).
Russian investors account for the largest number of foreign-owned companies with 2,412 entities, followed by the United Kingdom (1,237), China (1,221), France (1,184) and Australia (541).
Authorities identified 6,682 businesses operating in sectors considered at higher risk for nominee arrangements or other illegal activity. These include 4,249 companies involved in accommodation and real estate, 1,772 tourism businesses, 362 hotels and resorts, 175 construction firms, 105 e-commerce, retail and wholesale businesses, and 19 agricultural enterprises.
Officials also reported the arrest of 39 foreigners for illegally owning land, comprising 30 Russian nationals and nine Israelis.
The meeting was also told that authorities have recorded 28 cases involving encroachment on protected forest and public land in Patong, Karon and Cherng Talay.
Gov Chotinrin instructed agencies to continue implementing government policies across five key development areas and nine priority issues, including tackling drug offences, suppressing crime and influential figures, improving public safety, supporting tourism and economic growth, and raising residents’ quality of life.
He highlighted the Phuket Eye smart surveillance project as a key tool for improving security across the island.
The committee reviewed progress on the project’s first phase, which has integrated 736 CCTV cameras into a central monitoring system. These include 233 existing cameras from government agencies, three municipalities and private-sector partners, along with 503 new high-resolution cameras installed across Phuket’s three districts.
Officials are now seeking government funding for a second phase to expand camera coverage throughout the province. The meeting also examined the potential use of drone technology, following a study visit to China, to support security operations, search and rescue missions, traffic management and monitoring of high-risk areas alongside the Phuket Eye network.
The committee also reviewed progress under the government’s ‘90 Days Against Drugs’ campaign.
Gov Chotinrin said drug suppression required cooperation between police, local authorities, public health agencies, schools and community organisations, with equal emphasis on prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and public education.
Police reported that from Oct 1, 2025, to July 15 this year they had handled 1,263 serious drug cases, 38 cases involving conspiracy or assisting drug offences, and four money laundering cases linked to drug trafficking.
Authorities also seized assets worth B42.16 million during the operations.