The Crime Suppression Division police raided an illegal gas selling shop in Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon province, finding that expired gas cylinders were being self-repaired and repainted, risking explosions in the community. Over 500 cylinders were seized. The shop owner admitted to operating the business for more than 20 years.
On 5 July 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit Lertsithikul, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, ordered Pol. Col. Thanathat Sripipat, Acting Superintendent of Division 2, and Pol. Lt. Col. Jamroon Kamma, Inspector of Division 2, together with officials from Khlong Madeua Subdistrict Municipality in Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon, to inspect a cooking gas shop in Krathum Baen after reports that the business operated without a license and was refurbishing old or expired gas cylinders by repairing and repainting them before selling to the public.
Inspection found a total of 538 cooking gas cylinders, both empty and filled, valued at approximately 413,730 baht. Among these, 38 cylinders were expired. The shop owner admitted operating for over 20 years and stated that when cylinders appeared old or damaged, he personally repaired, removed rust, and repainted them to make them look like new, without sending them to the cylinder owners or certified factories for inspection, pressure testing, or safety certification according to standards.
Officials also found that the location lacked a license to operate a Type 3 controlled business for storing and selling cooking gas. It also did not have proper storage systems or fire prevention measures meeting safety standards. Since cooking gas is a highly flammable, high-pressure substance, any leakage or spark could cause a fire or severe explosion, especially given that the shop is near a residential community.
Authorities seized all related gas cylinders for examination and proceeded with legal action against the shop owner for operating a Type 3 controlled business (storage and sale of cooking gas) without a permit under the Fuel Control Act B.E. 2542 (1999), and for using cooking gas cylinders that did not meet the Ministry’s specifications (expired or deteriorated cylinders) under the same Act.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit warned the public to purchase cooking gas only from authorized retailers, to inspect gas cylinder conditions before use, and to avoid using cylinders with signs of corrosion, abnormal paint, or modifications. He urged people to report suspicious gas shops to relevant authorities promptly for investigation.
