Bangkok
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed an urgent, comprehensive crackdown on fuel hoarding and the illegal smuggling of oil out of Thailand, wanting to safeguard the country’s energy supply and protect consumers from artificial shortages and price distortions.
Acting in his capacity as Director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the Prime Minister issued the directive on Friday March 27th following an emergency meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and the Army Chief of Staff. The order takes effect immediately and mobilizes ISOC resources across the nation to tighten oversight of the entire fuel supply chain, from refineries to retail pumps.
Under the new measures, ISOC’s Energy Security Center will closely monitor production and distribution at refineries to prevent any diversion of oil supplies for illegal purposes. Provincial ISOC units, working alongside border defense forces, will step up surveillance of transportation routes, with particular attention to high-risk border areas where smuggling is believed to be occurring due to price differences with neighboring countries.
At the retail level, joint inspection teams will carry out random checks at gas stations nationwide. Authorities will look for signs of excessive stockpiling, unusual sales patterns, or other irregularities that could indicate hoarding or unlawful activities.
The government has said that this is designed to ensure energy stability, maintain fair and transparent pricing for the Thai public, and uphold integrity in the country’s energy sector amid recent concerns over supply disruptions and rising consumption.
Officials have encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity related to fuel hoarding or smuggling by calling the hotline 1374 or messaging the LINE official account @promchuay.
This crackdown comes as part of broader efforts to address volatility in the energy market, including recent price adjustments intended to reduce incentives for illegal exports while protecting domestic consumers. Authorities have stressed that legitimate businesses have nothing to fear, provided they comply with regulations, and that the focus remains on those exploiting the system for undue profit.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
