Bangkok: The Rajamanu Task Force has successfully intercepted a significant smuggling operation involving illegal diesel fuel at the Myanmar border, seizing 10,000 liters of diesel. This operation comes amid escalating diesel prices in Myanmar, which have surged to over 100 baht per liter.
According to Thai News Agency, the interception was conducted by the 3rd Rifle Platoon of the 1422nd Infantry Company, stationed at Ban Peung Keling. Task Force personnel were deployed to monitor the border area of Umphang District in Tak Province, where they identified five pickup trucks acting suspiciously. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that each vehicle was illegally transporting 2,000 liters of diesel fuel, amounting to a total of 10,000 liters, with an estimated value of 380,000 baht. These smugglers intended to transport the fuel out of the country into Myanmar.
During the initial investigation, all five drivers admitted to being hired to transport the oil from Mae Chan Subdistrict, Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand, to Myanmar. They utilized natural routes to circumvent checkpoints, receiving a payment of 6,000 baht for each trip. Following their arrest, authorities confiscated the vehicles and the contraband fuel, subsequently handing them over to the Umphang Police Station for legal proceedings.
In a related incident in Mae Ramat District, Tak Province, officials set up a checkpoint to deter illegal activities. They intercepted a red four-door Ford pickup truck carrying 15 blue 300-liter gallon containers in the truck bed and an additional 6 containers inside the vehicle. Upon inspection, receipts were found for 1,100 liters of Gasohol 95, costing 39,270 baht. The driver confessed to plans of smuggling the fuel into Myanmar due to the higher fuel prices there compared to Thailand. Both the driver and his accomplice were apprehended and the confiscated fuel was handed over to the Mae Ramat Police Station for further legal actions.