Many paid off in fuel scam
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IT IS NOT only the police who have taken bribes from petrol smugglers in the far South - Army units, customs officials and civilian agents have benefited from the lucrative illicit business for years, according to intelligence reports acquired by high-ranking security authorities.

Those running the contraband petrol trade were paying tens of millions of baht each month to corrupt officials and included an influential Pattani-based businessman on the run, a local politician in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district and a Pattani-based businessman who owns two companies, the reports said.

Also among them were the owner of a tanker ship and the owners of two companies based in the Malaysian state of Kelantan.

The reports have been received by defence and security authorities and National Council for Peace and Order.

Additional information has been based on the confessions of the subordinates of former Marine Police commander Maj-General Bunseub Phraithuen, who was arrested together with former Central Investigation Bureau chief Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan in the ongoing high-profile corruption scandal.

But direct links between the petrol trade and insurgency in the far South have not been firmly established, although suppression of the reciprocal venture needs drastic and complete action if concrete evidence were found, a security source said.

Individuals on the petrol-trade side include a cooperative in one of the three southernmost provinces, a businessman in Narathiwat and a network of drug dealers, according to the reports.

The trade also includes a number of their relatives and associates, one of them a man in uniform once based in Pattani.

The reports detail the logistics of the petrol-smuggling operation, including the locations of tankers that dock either to unload the cargo or to take it out to sea along the Gulf of Thailand from Phetchaburi to Narathiwat.

Certain locations are given - areas not far from Koh Samui and Phang Nga off Surat Thani, Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan and mid-sea rendezvous off Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat or further north in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Other areas are off Rayong and Trat.

The operation also involved a large number of fishing trawlers modified to carry 30,000-200,000 litres of contraband petrol, which was smuggled from a neighbouring country at half the price.

These trawlers offloaded the cargo near the shore and tanker trucks then distributed the petrol to service stations throughout the Southern region.

Corrupt officials included those operating checkpoints who turned a blind eye to these trucks and those involved in

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Many-paid-off-in-fuel-scam-30248740.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-28

How to deal with this cancerous tumour which it would seem if one reads through the report it would if halted actually damage the economy .Indeed the situation is reprehensible and it has plainly been ignored for many years by all administrations, civil, police and military commanders too.

One can hardly blame the current administration for this mess.

The cleaning and sanitizing of the whole situation and the bodies involved is going to be a nigh on impossible gargantuan task no matter who may be in power.

Those involved in these matters will take any measure to protect and safeguard their, ''investment incomes'' as well as their reputations and no doubt their state sponsored sinecures too.

The involvement of other sovereign state nationals private individuals along with those states employees or governmental employees persons will indeed be constructing a firewall of political, social, police, military and judicial strength materials so as to lessen or even neutralise any possible damage to their enterprises.

Indeed a fraud and criminal operation of international standards no doubt more than a few people will disappear without a trace in the near future as they are considered weak links in the matter

In reality can Thailand or its near neighboring states too claim to be democratic in any way shape or form, as when ones views this current scenario the expression, ''Anarchy'' springs to mind.

Not has been ignored rather have been complicit.

Next up:

1) The drug trade.

2) Trafficking in people and slavery.

We shall see...

Time to start "Operation Cleanup"

Chance for Prayuth to prove, that he is serious about fighting corruption!!

Not an easy task, but enough is enough. Lock up all corrupt officials, army, police and customs, and keep them in prison awaiting trial (no bail!!). Seize their assets!!

Time to get rid of the cancer called corruption!!

Crikey JOC, I agree with you on this one!

Place you money trace out boys , lets see where the trail goes. .

So be cause of the large scale this happened, I wonder what oils companies are involved?

I seriously doubt this oil was just sold om the streets...

Not has been ignored rather have been complicit.

That is what happens when even the civil service is corrupt, they are supposed to be the back bone of the country

This is impossible. Thais would never be involved in such things.

Time to start "Operation Cleanup"

Chance for Prayuth to prove, that he is serious about fighting corruption!!

Not an easy task, but enough is enough. Lock up all corrupt officials, army, police and customs, and keep them in prison awaiting trial (no bail!!). Seize their assets!!

Time to get rid of the cancer called corruption!!

Correct. No other option will produce worthwhile results. Go round in circles & come back to this conclusion!! If the current "government" is to be credible, this is the litmus test. Will they take a deep breath and say "Yes!" or will they say "No! Too hard." I could understand the response being the second option but that is not what they came in saying they wanted to do. Credibility requires action. Thailand needs it but owing to the almost universal complicity at every level of society, it begs the question of whether the country deserves it. Everyone at almost every level has clipped the ticket of this journey to the border town called "Failed State." I am not religious but the biblical quote about "who is eligible to cast the first stone" sure comes to mind.

When you see these billions, a much better question would be, where do the trillions go?

The trillions of profit for the price difference between the "real price" and the inflated one we pay on the gasoline station.

Tread very carefully now, Prayuth .... you can only delve to a certain depth/height, beyond which you may find yourself to be the subject of a counter-coup.

So be cause of the large scale this happened, I wonder what oils companies are involved?

I seriously doubt this oil was just sold om the streets...

Good point. Surely PTT must be aware that something untoward was going on? Billions of litres of fuel are involved - hardly a drop in the ocean. I would hate to be the one to investigate and explain all this - there are going to be certain barriers which cannot be crossed under any circumstances because of where the probe might lead to and who it might touch. That's very dangerous ground.

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

Crikey JOC, I agree with you on this one!

Blimey - so do I.

He does realise that it is largely red-shirts and Pheu-Thai politicians under the protection of tomato police at the root of these things right ?.

I reckon his account has been hijacked.

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

You sure Thaksin and his bunch are not involved? Maybe even the mother of (this) corruption?

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

whats the point of your first line....???? their all at it ...

Former Indonesian FM Ali Alatas once said. " when you point your finger at someone three fingers point back at you." A wise oriental proverb.

On the one side there is a push to end the "fuel subsidy" on the other side to end the illegal

importation of cheap fuel, IE. not taxed. I don't get it.

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

You sure Thaksin and his bunch are not involved? Maybe even the mother of (this) corruption?

You do know there was corruption before Thaksin?

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

Wasn't Thaksin a Lt Col in the Thai police force at one time and his former wife is the daughter of a police general?

Last time I did a border run, a couple of years back now, we bought cheap gas (great price) from an 'unofficial vendor', was located very openly right next to a large official building owned by an especially big nationwide uniformed organisation. Right next to the gates - no way they were unaware, if not (which I suspect) much more..

Nope, was not the police - close though

Also well aware of a drop off point as mentioned in the article from a few years back - was common knowledge in the area, especially among Thais.

What are the chances that the whole southern insurgency will end or stop after the oil smuggling & human trafficking business are shut down?

Let the Biggest Fingerpointing game begin!!

Thai police vs.Thai Army!

too bad both equally corrupt from top to bottom. But DO NOT ask how the PM and his family acquired their wealth. That, of course, personal.

Next up:

1) The drug trade.

2) Trafficking in people and slavery.

We shall see...

I dont think the lawmakers can handle any more crime investigations.........they've got a major handfull here .....bring in big men in drugs and it'll be chaos!!........

.....

My question is: How did this whole thing blow up? Who blew the whistle and who withdrew protection ?

And you thought Thaksin's bunch were corrupt!

Part of the culture, unlikely to change. As soon as those in high places start coming under scrutiny because of their association with "the money" then it will stumble to a halt. Too many of those pointing the finger will be involved in their own deals, and you can bet their "opposition" will have their own fingers to point.

But maybe. just maybe, something positive will happen. But I doubt it.

Wasn't Thaksin a Lt Col in the Thai police force at one time and his former wife is the daughter of a police general?

And your point is?

So be cause of the large scale this happened, I wonder what oils companies are involved?

I seriously doubt this oil was just sold om the streets...

I think the crime was that certain oil companies may not have been involved

For a moment there I thought I had read.....

Many paid off in Koh Tao Murder Scam
THE NATION

Wishful thinking I guess.