Thailand intercepts illegal palm oil smuggling in Ranong

Police thwarted a smuggling operation involving illegal palm oil in Ranong, Thailand, apprehending four suspects and confiscating 2,700 kilogrammes of palm oil. The operation was executed by the 25th Infantry Special Task Force, local police, and administrative officials.

The first incident occurred at a natural channel along the Kra Buri River in Moo 5, Baan Hat Chid, Pak Chan subdistrict. Here, officials discovered a long-tail boat laden with clusters of palm oil that had crossed from a neighbouring country to the Thai side.

Two men were spotted unloading the palm oil from the boat onto the riverbank. As officers revealed their presence, the two men, believed to be foreigners, leapt into the river in a desperate attempt to evade capture.

Despite the tension, they managed to swim back to their country of origin without incident. Upon inspection, police found 1,000 kilogrammes of palm oil and the motorised long-tail boat.

In the second instance, at another natural channel along the Kra Buri River in Moo 10, Pak Chan subdistrict, officials identified a similar smuggling setup. A motorised long-tail boat carried palm oil and white sacks from the neighbouring country to Thai shores.

Two men were seen transferring the palm oil to a pickup truck bearing a Chumphon license plate. When the police moved to arrest them, the suspects jumped back onto the boat and fled across the river.

Nevertheless, three Thai suspects were detained. The inspection revealed 1,200 kilogrammes of palm oil clusters and loose palm seeds.

The final location was another natural channel in Moo 5, Pak Chan subdistrict, where a group of men was found loading palm oil into a grey, single-cab pickup truck without a license plate.

As officials announced their presence, the men quickly boarded a boat and retreated to the neighbouring country. The investigation of the vehicle uncovered 500 kilogrammes of palm oil, and one suspect was apprehended, reported KhaoSod.

In total, 2,700 kilogrammes of illegal palm oil were seized across the three incidents, with four suspects taken into custody. The captured individuals and the confiscated goods were subsequently transferred to the Pak Chan Police Station for further legal proceedings.