Southern Thailand Customs Seize 10,000 Litres Of Fuel Smuggled From Malaysia

SONGKLA, May 26 (Bernama) – The Ninth Division of Custom Department in southern Thailand has seized more than 10,000 litres of petrol and diesel believed to have been smuggled from Malaysia and detained seven people to facilitate investigations. Its director, Manoch Phitak, said the seizure was the result of the department’s operation carried out from May 20 until Friday. “Illegal fuel distributors in southern Thailand are taking advantage of the rising petrol and diesel prices in the country to smuggle fuel from Malaysia which is much cheaper and marketable here,” he told reporters Friday. Petrol and diesel prices in Thailand have been on the rise and have reached RM3.20 per litre. Manoch said illegal fuel distributors in southern Thailand used smugglers to bring the petrol and diesel from Malaysia using ‘rat routes’ as well as the legal entry points in Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Besar. -- BERNAMA