Army Seizes Six Lorries Smuggling 60,000 Litres of Fuel

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

Thai soldiers have intercepted six lorries attempting to smuggle 60,000 litres of diesel fuel across the Myanmar border in Tak province.

The operation, carried out on 20 August by troops from the Ratchamanu Special Task Force alongside Tak provincial investigators and local officials, took place near Mok Ker Thai village in Phop Phra district, an area frequently used for cross-border smuggling.

Officers on patrol spotted six 10-wheel lorries moving suspiciously in convoy and moved in to stop them. On inspection, each vehicle was found carrying 10,000 litres of diesel fuel concealed under tarpaulins.

The drivers were identified as:

• Niphath Pokpong, 37, driving an Isuzu, licence plate from Kamphaeng Phet.

• Saneh Srithong, 49, Isuzu fromTak.

• Bawon Suksawat, 36, Isuzu from Kamphaeng Phet.

• Nopparat Sriprasan, 29, Hino Victor from Tak.

• Thaksa Hattasornsophon, 43, Isuzu from Kamphaeng Phet.

• Nakhon Kamdee, 46, Isuzu from Tak.

All six men admitted they intended to transport the fuel into neighbouring Myanmar. They were arrested and both the vehicles and their cargo were seized pending legal proceedings.

Authorities noted that Myanmar’s Myawaddy region is currently suffering severe fuel shortages, exacerbated by government restrictions requiring permits for fuel imports. Meanwhile, Thailand enforces its own ban on exporting fuel to Myanmar under its so-called “three cuts” policy designed to undermine cross-border criminal operations, cutting electricity supply, cutting internet access and cutting fuel shipments.

Officials said the case would proceed through legal channels, with further investigations expected into the wider smuggling network.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-08-21