Thailand Crackdown on Oil Hoarding and Fuel Smuggling

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a nationwide crackdown on fuel hoarding and the illegal smuggling of oil out of Thailand to maintain energy stability and ensure fair pricing during a global energy crisis. The directive, effective as of March 27, 2026, mandates a comprehensive inspection of the entire fuel supply chain, from production refineries to retail gas stations.

Acting as the Director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Prime Minister Anutin announced the discovery of extensive oil hoarding and market manipulation. He stated that various tactics have been used to exploit consumers, including the irregular diversion of fuel shipments and the intentional delay of marine transport. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has been tasked with conducting a special investigation to expedite legal proceedings and identify all parties involved in these activities.

Supply Chain Monitoring and Enforcement

The crackdown involves several layers of oversight managed by ISOC and other government agencies. The ISOC Energy Security Center is overseeing oil production and distribution at refineries to prevent the diversion of illegal supplies. Simultaneously, provincial ISOC units and border defense forces are monitoring fuel transport routes, with a particular focus on high-risk border areas to stop smuggling.

Joint inspection teams are also conducting random checks at service stations nationwide. These teams are searching for evidence of stockpiling, irregular sales volumes, and other unlawful activities. The coordinated effort includes participation from the Ministry of Justice, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Energy Business, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, the Marine Department, the Customs Department, and the Excise Department.

Investigators have identified three primary patterns of misconduct. First, oil tankers were found loitering offshore to delay deliveries in anticipation of retail price increases. Second, certain storage facilities withheld supplies from distributors and petrol stations. Third, fuel was transported off designated routes, suggesting irregular redistribution or stockpiling.

To trace these movements, authorities are cross-referencing maritime tracking system data with records from the Department of Energy Business and excise tax data. This process aims to trace both land and sea transport routes, including potential illegal exports to neighboring countries.

Regional Crackdowns and Legal Action

Enforcement actions have already led to police complaints and arrests in several provinces. In Surat Thani, the provincial commerce office filed a police complaint on April 4, 2026, against PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd. The complaint, filed with Muang Surat Thani police under the Price of Goods and Services Act (1999), follows a joint inspection on April 1 led by Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat.

PC Siam Petroleum is accused of several violations involving controlled goods, including storing fuel at undeclared locations, holding fuel in excess of legally permitted limits, refusing sales, and delaying delivery without reasonable cause. These offenses are alleged to have occurred continuously throughout March 2026.

Further operations in the south and along border areas have uncovered significant illegal stockpiles. In the Sadao district of Songkhla, officials discovered 100,000 liters of diesel stored at an international truck yard. This included 50,000 liters in underground storage and 35 above-ground tanks containing 1,000 liters each.

In Kanchanaburi, officers arrested a 43-year-old man in the Sangkhla Buri district. The suspect was found with 1,260 liters of gasohol hidden beneath sacks of ice in a pickup truck, which authorities believe he planned to smuggle into Myanmar.

Maritime Security and DSI Deadlines

The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy has ordered increased forces for the First and Second Naval Regions to intensify patrols and block networks smuggling fuel out of the country. This maritime effort targets the use of unidentified vessels, referred to as ghost ships, to move oil illegally.

Reports indicate that approximately 20 voyages, involving more than 50 million liters of oil, have been flagged as potentially linked to stockpiling. Some reports suggest the total amount of hoarded oil could reach as high as 57 million liters, with operators receiving large quantities but releasing small amounts to the market to speculate on price differences.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat has placed significant pressure on the DSI to resolve these cases. The Minister set a deadline of noon on April 7, 2026, for the DSI to provide clear data on the total volume of missing fuel and the number of voyages involved in the stockpiling schemes.

The government has urged the public to report suspicious activity related to fuel hoarding or smuggling by calling 1374 or messaging the LINE account @promchuay.