BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has opened a large-scale criminal probe into fuel hoarding, targeting suspicious shipments of 60 million liters of oil as regional tensions in the Middle East drive supply concerns.
The Board of Special Case Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, voted to treat the hoarding as a “special case” under the Special Investigation Act. The move targets oil traders suspected of stalling shipments or stockpiling supplies to exploit market shortages, a violation of the Goods and Services Act.
The investigation primarily focuses on 24 suspicious vessel trips out of 99 monitored in Surat Thani province. Authorities reported that these vessels engaged in deliberate delays or deviated from standard shipping routes, involving approximately 60 million liters of fuel.
However, it has not yet been confirmed whether this involves missing oil.
The probe covers all fuel-related offenses committed since March 1, 2026. Beyond the southern shipments, investigators are also looking into a separate case involving 57 million liters of oil reportedly “lost at sea” near Surat Thani as well as a major oil depot in the same area.
The DSI is currently collaborating with the Excise Department, the Marine Department, and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (Thai-MECC) to cross-reference logistics data. Officials stated that while multiple companies are under scrutiny, the total number of involved firms is believed to be fewer than ten. (TNA)
