Mae sot: Mae Sot authorities are intensifying efforts to prevent Myanmar nationals from renting cars with Thai license plates and refueling them. The authorities are closely monitoring Myanmar citizens who rent vehicles with Thai license plates to refuel and then transfer the fuel to other vehicles before crossing back into Myanmar.

According to Thai News Agency, the situation has reached a critical point in the five border districts of Tak province, particularly in Mae Sot district, which shares a border with Myanmar. Since early morning, residents from Mae Sot and nearby districts have been flocking to gas stations with a wide array of vehicles, including large trucks, agricultural vehicles, private cars, and motorcycles. The rush has led to traffic congestion, with lines extending at least two kilometers and necessitating the closure of two traffic lanes in the border area of Mae Sot.

By 6:00 AM, all gas stations began operations, allowing the first vehicles to refuel. However, restrictions were in place, limiting each vehicle to a maximum of 500 baht worth of fuel, with some stations capping it at 1,000 baht. Additionally, refueling into jerrycans was strictly prohibited. Within three hours, all gas stations ran out of fuel and displayed "out of fuel" signs. It remains uncertain if fuel supplies would be replenished at the Mae Sot border later in the day. Many customers, who had waited for hours, were left frustrated, and some vehicles were abandoned in front of the stations due to insufficient fuel.

Mr. Kantapong Pipatmontrikul, the Mae Sot District Chief, led efforts alongside the Mae Sot District Volunteer Defense Corps, traffic police, and Mae Sot Municipality officials to manage the traffic and oversee fuel transactions. This action followed reports that gas stations in Mae Sot were refusing to serve vehicles with Myanmar registration, suspected of hoarding fuel for their journey back to Myanmar. Authorities discovered that Myanmar nationals were renting Thai-registered vehicles to refuel before transferring the fuel to their own cars. In response, Mae Sot district officials have effectively intercepted and halted this illegal operation.