Kanchanaburi: A 43-year-old man was arrested for smuggling 1,260 liters of fuel intended for sale in Myanmar. Soldiers from the 29th Infantry Regiment's Task Force in Lad Ya apprehended the suspect, who had hidden the fuel in the back of a pickup truck loaded with ice. The fuel was intended for sale across the border at 100 baht per liter.

According to Thai News Agency, the Surasri Task Force, specifically the Lad Ya Task Force of the 29th Infantry Regiment, collaborated with the Sangkhlaburi Police Station and other relevant agencies to arrest Mr. Mongkol. He was driving a white Toyota single-cab pickup truck with Kanchanaburi license plates along Highway 323. His suspicious behavior near the Nam Krik intersection in Ban Songkaria, Moo 8, Nong Lu Subdistrict, Sangkhlaburi District, prompted a search of the truck. The search uncovered 42 gallons of Gasohol 95, totaling 1,260 liters, concealed within the truck.

The officers seized the evidence, including the fuel, the vehicle, and two mobile phones. The suspect and the evidence were handed over to the investigating officers at Sangkhlaburi Police Station for prosecution under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017).

During initial questioning, Mr. Mongkol admitted to purchasing 30 gallons of fuel from a gas bottling plant in Sangkhlaburi District at 60 baht per liter, and 12 gallons from a local gas station. He intended to smuggle the fuel through natural border crossings to sell in Myanmar at 100 baht per liter. Meanwhile, the Department of Internal Trade is intensifying inspections of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottling plants and retailers for selling "incomplete" tanks, a practice that exploits consumers.