Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthapol, Minister of Justice, and Pol. Gen. Thatchai, Deputy Commissioner-General of Police, are overseeing efforts to prevent illegal oil smuggling and illicit fuel in Thai waters, emphasizing thorough inspections nationwide. They revealed that operations found no evidence of oil being smuggled out of the kingdom via tanker ships.
Today (22 Mar 2026) at 09:00, following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's directive, the government and the Royal Thai Police have been ordered to prevent and suppress illegal oil smuggling out of the country, hoarding, price gouging, and adulteration. The government, represented by Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthapol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, and the Royal Thai Police, led by Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanpetch, Commissioner-General of Police, assigned Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabutr, Deputy Commissioner-General of Police and Director of the Center for Combating Fuel-Related Crimes (CCFC), to lead a meeting to monitor operations. Present were Pol. Maj. Gen. Phutthipong Musikul, Deputy Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol. Col. Sarawut Lichaveerach, Deputy Commander of the Marine Police, and other relevant officers at the Marine Police Headquarters in Samut Prakan.
Following up from 11 March 2026, the Royal Thai Police deployed the patrol vessel "Chaijinda" along with 30 patrol boats to conduct intensive surveillance of Thai waters to prevent illegal oil-related offenses. Operations found no evidence of oil smuggling out of the kingdom via tanker ships. However, officials promptly raided and seized illicit fuel being sold to fishing boats at sea. Joint inspections with the Excise Department have proceeded with full legal action. Additionally, during the mission, patrol boats rescued two Vietnamese fishermen whose boat had sunk at sea, safely bringing them aboard the Chaijinda.
After the meeting, the Minister of Justice and Pol. Gen. Thatchai jointly dispatched the patrol vessel "Pathumwan 3" with a special operations team to patrol Thai waters, focusing on preventing oil smuggling and intercepting offenses in all aspects.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthapol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, stated that under the Prime Minister's policy to resolve oil shortages, he has inspected oil refineries, storage facilities, and service stations. He has also urged the Royal Thai Police to intensify strict inspections both on land and at sea, especially given the current situation where the price of green oil exceeds station prices, which may encourage cross-border smuggling or illicit fuel sales to fishing boats, directly impacting the country's energy security.
Meanwhile, Pol. Gen. Thatchai has strictly ordered officers at the CCFC and the Marine Police to thoroughly scrutinize diesel sales for fishing boats or green oil, imposing penalties for negligence. He emphasized daily reporting of operations, and upon detecting offenders, to arrest and prosecute without exception.
The Royal Thai Police request public cooperation. If anyone has information about illegal oil export smuggling, adulteration, hoarding, or price gouging, they can immediately report it via the 24-hour hotline 1599.