BANGKOK– Thai officials now fight harder against fuel tricks. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) took charge of a big case. More than 57 million liters of oil vanished from storage sites in southern Thailand.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul slammed the group behind it. He said they slowed the probe on purpose. They want to profit from the coming price hikes.
Thailand’s energy world feels tense right now. Fuel shortages already annoy drivers and shops everywhere. New clues show groups hoard oil. They hold back deliveries. Some even smuggle it out for more cash.
Workers spotted the gap during normal checks. Shipments went to six big oil depots in Surat Thani province. Records show 217 million liters left the refineries. Only 160 million liters reached the depots. So, over 57 million liters went missing. That amount fills hundreds of tanker trucks.
Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat laid out the plan. Police tackle hoarding and illegal land storage first. Meanwhile, DSI checks the full chain, from refineries to gas stations.
“The DSI calls this a special case,” the minister noted. “We can act quick now. We summon key people. We hit them with law fast.”
PM Anutin Fires Back at Oil Hoarders
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke up at a Friday meeting. He called out oil traders for greedy tricks. They exploit the energy mess, he said. Evidence shows hoarding and market games. These hurt regular folks in Thailand.
“These folks drag out the probe,” the PM stated. “They gear up for price jumps to grab extra money.” He promised the government would push on. Big names or small, no one escapes.
Investigators found six odd moves:
Traders delay tankers at sea. They wait for better prices. They also hold back supplies from depots. Some reroute shipments off normal paths. Others do ship-to-ship swaps far out at sea. Records show funny numbers, too. Plus, illegal exports link to spots like Cambodia.
Anutin sees this as a danger to energy safety. He wants fast steps to shield buyers.
DSI Jumps In with Checks
DSI teams moved quickly. They teamed with others to raid six Surat Thani depots. One spot had weird stockpiles. Inventory topped delivery logs by a lot. Another held 2 million liters extra with no clear reason.
Sea probes heat up, too. The Maritime National Interest Protection Center noted odd trips in March. Tankers crawled slowly or hung around Thai waters. Those holds match about 50 million liters gone.
A war room tracks fuel now. It questions the supply chain and players. DSI plans to send the full case to the Special Case Board soon. Strong proof will seal it. Fuel costs stir talk in Thailand these days. A fresh 6-baht jump per liter sparked gripes. Some stations saw panic buys. Hoarding worsens fake shortages, experts say.
Success for hoarders means higher prices. Families feel it. Taxi drivers struggle. Truckers pay more. Small shops hurt bad. The government figures scams like this drain billions of baht. Cops already nab small illegal sites. In Saraburi and Ayutthaya, they grabbed tanks, pumps, and tons of untagged fuel. These busts prove the issue spreads beyond southern hubs.
Thailand’s Bigger Energy Struggles
Thailand buys most crude oil from abroad. Global ups and downs hit hard. Middle East trouble adds stress. So, officials watch fuel flows closely. Refineries like IRPC and OR push back on rumors. Their Surat Thani spots follow rules, they claim. They stay open and deny hoarding roles.
DSI’s special status arms them well. These cases mix big networks, cash piles, and quick teamwork. DSI will call in depot bosses, runners, ship captains, and more. They check logs, stocks, and money flows. Smuggling ties to Cambodia mean global help might join.
Prime Minister Anutin stays firm. “No one games the market on Thai backs,” he said. Updates will roll out as things move. Officials beg no panic buys. Those make shortages real. Experts call for tighter watches. Better tanker trackers help.
Tougher hoard penalties warn off crooks. Thailand’s fuel setup shows weak spots to greed. DSI pushes on. Folks watch if the missing oil leads to real busts.
