According to reports in the Thai media: the governor of Krabi province and the district police chief led a joint operation to search and arrest the operators of illegal Israeli-owned cannabis farms, while using the Thais as shareholders to evade the local law, including section 8(3) of the Foreign Business Law.
The raid was conducted yesterday, January 21, 2026 at 09:30 (local time). About 50 police officers from various stations participated, including district and local police, immigration police, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the tourism police, district administration officials, public health authorities and labor officials.
In accordance with the search warrants issued by the District Court of Krabi, the police searched the place and arrested the owner of the company, who was identified as an Israeli citizen. Authorities say the business let Thai nationals hold shares on behalf of a foreign national, allowing a foreign national to run a limited business in violation of Thai law.
Before the search, officials, with the help of an interpreter, read and explained the arrest warrants to the suspect who cooperated with the authorities. Inside the building, officers found an indoor cannabis growing facility equipped with controlled water, lighting and temperature systems, along with cannabis processing equipment. The site was allegedly also used for the sale of cannabis products and consumption on the spot.