Thailand is implementing oil sales limits nationwide due to concerns about scarcity and hoarding amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The Tak governor, Chusak Rooying, has intensified monitoring efforts in response to threats of fuel smuggling across the border into Myanmar. The situation escalated on March 22, 2026, when authorities discovered a fuel truck in Mae Sot district suspected of intending to ship diesel to Myawaddy, Karen State, Myanmar.
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Authorities responded swiftly, inspecting the truck parked by the Moei River after reports of suspicious activity. The search revealed the operation involved 20,000 litres of diesel prepared for illegal transport to Myanmar. Additional equipment, including several large containers and drums, was found nearby at a warehouse associated with the operation.
Following these discoveries, officials seized the vehicle and fuel, initiating legal actions against those involved. Two individuals, Pisit Chanphut and Myanmar national Nya Hnai Oo, were detained for attempting to export goods without customs procedures. They confessed to planning to send all the fuel across the border.
Governor Rooying directed Mae Sot district to enforce stricter inspections to curb hoarding and prevent illicit fuel transport. He warned that such activities could jeopardize Thailand’s economic and energy security, urging the public to report any suspicious activities to authorities, reported The Nation.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 23 Mar 2026