Thailand cracks down on oil smuggling

Thailand’s government continues to battle against illicit oil trade, seizing 6.7 million tons of oil during the first seven months of this year. Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat disclosed that the Excise Department has co-operated with four other agencies including the Customs Department, the Energy Business Department, the Energy Policy and Planning Office, and the National Police Bureau to suppress illegal actions against petroleum trading. Pruttichai said that officials from these agencies would be dispatched to inspect storage tanks containing more than 50,000 liters of diesel fuel. The Excise Department will also propose that the Civil Service Commission recruit about 500 officials to investigate these illegal activities, as the 600 or so officials currently deployed are inadequate to address the problem. The issue will be submitted to the Cabinet for endorsement soon. (September 29, 2009)