BANGKOK: Thai police busted a fuel-smuggling syndicate in the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 nautical miles off Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, on Sunday (March 17) and seized five fishing vessels ferrying over 300,000 litres of fuel worth 10 million baht (RM1.31 million).
Pol Col Pohnsak Laorujiralai, a deputy commander at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said a joint patrol of marine police and the CSD - acting on a tip-off - conducted inspections in the Gulf of Thailand and detained five fishing vessels and arrested 28 crew members in the operation.
He said the fuel, likely from Malaysia or Singapore, was being transported on vessels to Thai waters.
"We are waiting for information from relevant authorities after examination," he said.
He said the enforcement team discovered a Thailand-registered fishing vessel carrying 80,000 litres of fuel, transferred it to another vessel at 9 am (local time) on Sunday, about 100 nautical miles off Sattahip District, and found two more vessels - with 150,000 litres of fuel and 100,000 litres of fuel respectively, on the same day.
"The police are widening the investigation to gather more details on its network and members,” he said.
Initial investigation found that these vessels were to transport the fuel to smaller vessel, which would head near jetties or piers for the transfer to awaiting oil tankers, he said. - Bernama
