Smugglers caught with B10 million of fuel

PHANG NGA: Marine Police on Tuesday seized a tanker, which they say was being used in an attempt to smuggle 300,000 liters of diesel fuel, worth 10 million baht, into Thailand. Pol Lt Col Nanthavuthi Nopphakhun, Deputy-Commander of the Marine Police, said today that investigations into a smuggling ring led to the seizure near the Surin Islands, during which four Thai crewmen were also arrested. The tanker, the Royal Ocean 2, was boarded and seized just northwest of the Surin Islands. It is now in police custody at the Ranong Deep Sea Port. The crewmen were charged with failing to pay import duty on the fuel, and each faces penalties of a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine of four times the value of the fuel, or both. The crewmen were released from custody after posting bail today.