The Royal Thai Navy’s Region 1 has joined forces with the Maritime National Interest Administration Center Region 1 (Sor Chon Chon. Region 1), along with several government agencies, to capture a smuggling boat carrying over 100,000 liters of illegal oil in the Gulf of Thailand’s Phetchaburi Province. The operation resulted in the apprehension of the boat’s captain and crew, comprising six individuals, who will be fined approximately 5 million baht.
Deputy Commander of the 1st Naval Region, Rear Admiral Anupong Thaprasop, led the joint press conference with other government agencies, including the Marine Police Division, Marine Department, Excise Department, and Customs Department, to announce the successful arrest of the oil tanker that was caught smuggling diesel fuel without going through the customs process. The vessel was seized by the 115 offshore patrol boat while patrolling the sea at the estuary of Bang Tabun River in Phetchaburi Province.
The Royal Thai Navy took control of the vessel and brought it to the pier at the Royal Thai Navy Fleet in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, for legal action. The Excise Department will impose a fine of around 5 million baht on the vessel and its crew.
According to Rear Admiral Anupong Thaprasop, the news operation led to the mission’s assignment to the Tor 115 Fleet Operations, which inspected the oil tanker for tax evasion on May 1. The inspection revealed that the crew members had evaded taxes on over 100,000 liters of diesel fuel. The vessel’s registration had also expired in 2017.
This operation marks the fourth time since October 2022 that the Royal Thai Navy’s Region 1 and Sor Chon Region 1 have arrested oil tankers involved in tax evasion without going through the customs process, seizing over 400,000 liters of diesel and 700,000 liters of gasoline. This practice aligns with the Navy Commander’s policy to suppress illegal acts in the sea, in line with the government’s overall policy.
