BANGKOK, Thailand – Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat has ordered the Department of Special Investigation to treat the disappearance of more than 50 million liters of fuel during marine transport as a special case, as authorities widen their probe into suspected hoarding networks.
The order follows inspections across the fuel supply chain, from refineries to depots and service stations, where violations were found among licensed operators. Arrests have been made in several areas, including Ang Thong province, Mae Sot district in Tak, and Nakhon Sawan.
A key case was identified in Surat Thani province, where irregularities in marine transport were found. Investigators reported that 217 million liters of fuel were shipped from six depots across 96 tanker voyages, but only 160 million liters reached destinations in the South, leaving about 57 million liters unaccounted for.
Authorities have set up a dedicated task unit to expand the investigation and summon those involved for questioning. Preliminary findings have not linked oil refineries to hoarding, with fuel in storage tanks identified as residual stock not available for sale. (NNT)
