Illegal oil smugglers stole three tankers carrying about 330,000 litres of diesel from the Thai Marine Police (TMP) dock in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri on Tuesday night.

 

TMP officers filed a complaint with Sattahip Police Station in the early hours of June 12 after three out of five oil tankers disappeared from their parking spots. The relevant authorities attempted to track down the tankers via water and air but were unable to identify their locations.

 

These five oil vessels were seized from an oil smuggling gang on March 19. The ships were parked at the dock, awaiting auction by the Customs Department for the approximately 330,000 litres of diesel in three of the five tankers. Officers believed that each of the oil tankers had a separate owner.

 

While awaiting the auction, TMP officers allowed the owners and their crew to return to each vessel to carry out maintenance, preventing them from sinking. Police officers were assigned to oversee each vessel and ensure their control.

 

According to the TMP, officers were alerted about the strong waves since June 9. The rough waves posed a risk of friction between the tankers and the pier, potentially leading to a spark due to the oil inside the vessels, escalating into a fire or explosion.

 

Leading oil smuggler suspected

 

For safety reasons, an undisclosed police inspector decided to relocate each tanker to anchor in the middle of the sea, approximately 100 meters away from the pier, on June 11. Police officers observed each vessel’s lights being turned on at 8pm and they were switched off around 10pm that night.

 

However, when the police checked the tankers again in the morning, three of them were missing. The estimated damage amounted to about 10 million baht.

 

TMP Commander Prutthipong Nuchanart reported that the theft was suspected to have been carried out by a prominent oil smuggler known as Jo Illegal Oil or Jo Pattani. Prutthipong suspected that the tankers may be in the waters of Thailand’s neighbouring country.

 

The Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Jaroonkiat Parnkaew, admitted during an interview with Channel 3 that he was very angry because this theft should not have occurred under the authorities’ noses.

 

Jaroonkiat further explained that arresting illegal oil smugglers proved challenging, and it took a day to transport the oil tankers from the scene of the arrest to the TMP dock. However, the police lost track of them. Jaroonkiat stated that the inspector, along with other officers on patrol duty, must take responsibility for this theft.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via Facebook/ บิ๊กเกรียน365

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-13

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

LoL...police report to police smugglers take their boats and cargo back during high seas...is it a movie plot ?

12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

These five oil vessels were seized from an oil smuggling gang on March 19

and now , they took them back .

So the cops filed a complaint with the cops    

Moving the boats from the pier in bad weather I can understand. 

Not guarding them I can't.

Inside job?

Reminds me of the famous "three oily brown envelopes" case.

15 hours ago, johng said:

LoL...police report to police smugglers take their boats and cargo back during high seas...is it a movie plot ?

A very low budget homemade movie... 

yes thailand needs a 12 billion submarine for these tasks, preferable a few of those

 

lol

Now that's funny!

ingenuity verses the cops......the cops lost, could have been a scene from 'Dad's Army'

1 hour ago, john donson said:

yes thailand needs a 12 billion submarine for these tasks, preferable a few of those

 

lol

 

The boats would have seen the submarine miles away, and sped off. 😆

 

That is how useless and embarrassing the sub will be. 

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Illegal oil smugglers stole three tankers carrying about 330,000 litres of diesel from the Thai Marine Police

 

"Spirited" away during the night from under the noses of the Thai Marine Police - what gross incompetence!!

Now possibly docked in Cambodia.

 

Full story:

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40038789

 

 

On 6/13/2024 at 8:33 AM, snoop1130 said:

The rough waves posed a risk of friction between the tankers and the pier, potentially leading to a spark due to the oil inside the vessels, escalating into a fire or explosion.

Utter BS.....

Inside job

Somebody is in the market for a new luxury car!

News report in Thai media.

 

Missing Oil Tankers Located, Awaiting Further Action.

 

“On June 16,  authorities reported progress in the investigation of three missing oil tankers, which had disappeared from the Sattahip Marine Police Pier in Chonburi Province. According to investigative sources, the police have located the three vessels. They are currently being escorted to a port in Songkhla Province.

 

The final decision regarding whether to return the tankers to Sattahip for legal proceedings will be made tomorrow (June 17,). Additionally, there remains uncertainty about whether the contraband oil is still on board.

 

This development marks a significant step in the investigation of the illegal oil transport case that had raised concerns about maritime security and law enforcement efficiency.”

https://workpointnews.com/around/news/NPAJH3C

Thai news update.

 

“Yesterday evening, June 16, Marine Police located the three tankers in international waters and within Malaysian territory. The ships were subsequently pushed back into Thai waters. The Thai Marine Police then took control of the vessels and directed them towards the Songkhla coast, with an expected arrival at noon on June 17.

 

However, the arrival may be delayed due to rough seas and one of the ships being inoperable, necessitating it to be towed to shore. The Songkhla Marine Police are preparing for the reception and security of the tankers and their crew. A press conference on the developments is scheduled for today.

 

Preliminary reports indicate that out of the approximately 330,000 liters of smuggled oil, a portion is missing, and half of the 16-member crew is unaccounted for. Additionally, there have been attempts to repaint some of the vessels to obscure their identities. Detailed updates will be provided by senior officials at the press conference held at the Songkhla Marine Police Division 7 headquarters.”

Thai media update.

 

“June 17, 16.00,  In a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat Pangkaew, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Pruittipong Nuchanarot, Commander of the Marine Police Division, and Pol. Col. Wiwat Jitsopakul, Superintendent of Division 2, Central Investigation Bureau, announced the recovery of three smuggled oil ships that had gone missing from the Sattahip Marine Police Pier in Chonburi.

 

Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat stated that investigations are ongoing to determine if the disappearance of the three vessels is linked to a prominent figure known as Mr. J. The incident is seen as a direct affront to law enforcement, and efforts are being intensified to resolve the case.

The missing ships, which disappeared for 3-4 days, are currently under thorough investigation, including the possibility of police involvement. A special committee has been established to probe the matter. The authorities assure the public of their commitment to apprehend and prosecute all those involved.

 

“All charges will be pursued against anyone found to be complicit in this crime. The extent of the stolen oil is still under investigation and will be confirmed by the forensic team,” said Deputy Commissioner Charoonkiat.

 

Pol. Maj. Gen. Pruittipong provided a detailed timeline of the events, starting from the initial seizure of the smuggled oil in Sattahip on March 17, 2024. The Marine Police were entrusted with the custody of the ships on March 19. On June 11, a group of perpetrators seized the ships, which were taken to Cambodia on June 12.

 

The ships had their appearances altered, including a color change from red to green. However, due to the haste in evading authorities, only one ship was fully modified. The intention was to reuse the ships and sell the confiscated oil in Cambodia.

 

By June 13, the Marine Police coordinated with neighboring countries, including Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, to track the suspect ships. The suspects, aware of the police pursuit, attempted to evade capture by relocating the ships frequently. The ships were eventually located within Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with assistance from naval units and satellite surveillance.

 

On June 16, at 6:00 AM, a report from a fishing network partner identified the suspect ships 90 miles off the coast of Songkhla. Marine Police deployed three vessels to verify and by 3:00 PM, confirmed the ships' identities. Eight crew members were apprehended.

 

The suspects intended to capitalize on both the oil, valued at 3-4 million baht, and the ships, worth up to 20 million baht each. The investigation also revealed that the ships were brought to an area in Pattani, known for illicit oil trading.

 

Pol. Col. Wiwat mentioned that the initial seizure involved five ships and 28 suspects, linked to two major financiers. Further investigation is required to establish connections to the individuals named Mr. N. in Rayong and Mr. J. in Pattani.“

 

https://workpointnews.com/around/news/N7KOJFP

Video of The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) boarding and seizing the boats at sea.