Large amount of fuel seized in raid on secret warehouse at border

UPON being alerted by residents of Mae Sot district, just opposite Myanmar’s Myawaddy township, that a large fuel truck had parked at a secret location on the bank of Moei river, authorities quickly went there to investigate and were surprised to find that aside from the truck carrying 20,000 litres of diesel more fuel was stored in the heavily-fenced warehouse, PPTVHD36 said this morning (March 23).

Mr. Kantapong Pipatmontrikul, Mae Sot’s district chief, along with officers from the Rajamanu Task Force, Mae Sot customs and police station went to Village No. 3, Ban Tha At, Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, where residents said the fuel truck had driven pass and parked nearby even though there are no petrol pumps in the area.

Upon arrival at the location, the team found that the truck had gone into a warehouse surrounded by a tall fence that made it impossible to see inside with a sign at the entrance prohibiting entry.

Found within were the truck carrying 20,000 litres of diesel, two 4,500-litre tanks containing 300 litres of fuel, along with 101 smaller 200-litre tanks and 85 30-litre containers. The warehouse resembled a small-scale fuel depot intended for use in times of crisis.

All items were confiscated and the truck driver taken in for further interrogation, with investigation continuing without details being revealed.

This comes at a time when residents of five border districts of Tak province are suffering from fuel shortage. In Mae Sot district there are long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps, spilling onto the road.

The fuel shortage has widespread impact with gangs now smuggling oil across to Myanmar which is also in the grips of an oil crunch

Tak Governor Mr. Chusak Rueying said he has ordered all officials in every district to urgently prevent and suppress illegal smuggling of oil.

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Officials raiding the warehouse on the bank of Moei river in Mae Sot where a big lot of fuel was seized. Photos – PPTVHD36