THE NUMBER of oil tankers crossing the border from Thailand’s Chiang Rai province to Laos suspiciously doubled to 90 after supplies to Myanmar were suspended on Feb. 10 soon after electricity was cut off on Feb. 5 to suppress scam centres in Tachileik township, just across from Mae Sai town on the Thai side, Naewna said today (Feb. 15).
Reporters from this newspaper said there were 50 oil tankers at Haciang 1 commercial port, Chiang Saen district, waiting to cross the Mekong river to Laos today.
From Monday Feb. 10 till today altogether 90 oil tankers carrying an approximate total of 4 million litres of oil drove to Laos for delivery, an increase of around 50%.
At Sop Ruak border checkpoint in this same district from where tourists and business people cross over to the Laotian Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, where Kings Romans casino is the star attraction, the flow of people has not increased at all being at the normal level despite the crackdown on scam hubs and operators of online gambling in Tachileik.
Thailand cut off electricity, Internet and fuel supplies from five points to three Myanmar border townships – Tachileik, Myawaddy and Payathonzu – to suppress call centre gangs holed up there with this leading to as many as 7,000 scam workers of various nationalities being released at Myawaddy and sent across to Thai Mae Sot town last Wednesday.
CAPTION:
A large number of oil trucks are waiting to cross over from Chiang Rai to Laos today, Feb. 15, 2025. Photos: Naewna
Also read: Friendship Bridge packed as price petrol in Myawaddy soars to 135 baht a litre
Only 1% of returning scam centre workers are victims: Police
Phumtham moving to cut power, Internet, fuel supply to Cambodia
Police seeking arrest warrant for Karen rebel leader
DSI likely to probe scandals over senatorial race riggings
Ouster bid against NACC chief turned into appeal to King
