Tourist Police chief Pol Maj-General Surechet Hakpan and other officials searched the office following the arrest of an unidentified 57-year-old Chinese man, Thai national Thawal Jaemchokchai and two foreign tour guides of the Ratchathewee-based Fuan Travel office.

The Chinese man allegedly used the identity of a deceased Thai national named Somkiat Khongcharoen to open Fuan Travel and also held a position as a major shareholding director of Sin Yuan Travel, which was opened last year.

Surechet said the Commerce Ministry rules preclude a foreigner from holding more than a 50-per-cent share in a company so the man’s practices were illegal. The Anti-Money Laundering Office will investigate the company’s assets as well as its tax payments.

Surachet said Thawal allegedly aided other foreigners to assume Thai identities, reportedly including a Chinese suspect in the alleged pyramid scheme involving the company UFUN. Surachet said the illegal tour companies reportedly received up to 20,000 tourists a day and did not contribute any income to the country’s coffers.

Tourism Department deputy chief Sutham Dechdi said his office would investigate Sin Yuan’s tourist operation licence.