Can immigration stop non-paying hotel guests from leaving the country?

Runninga Resort business on Samui, we hada few guests leave without clearing their final bill. They left Samui immediately after our resort toBangkok.
We went to the local police station and have and made a statement and now the local Samui police have to forward the statement to Bangkok police.
Samui Immigration have said they have arrived in Bangkok but no movement from Bangkok as of yet.
However they said that if wewant to catch them wehave to file a report to sue them and it will be a big media thing and go on TV etc.
We emailed them requesting payment but I read somewhere that immigration can hold them until they pay?
Would prefer not to make national media….