“Anutin” cracks down on oil hoarding cartels, Exposing delay tactics and ordering DSI special investigation

Today (3 April 2026), Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, held a joint press conference following a high-level meeting with energy and security agencies. The meeting addressed suspicious activities involving "oil hoarding" that have exacerbated the public's burden during the global energy crisis. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Royal Thai Police, and maritime authorities were in attendance

The Prime Minister revealed that investigations identified three primary methods of misconduct:

1.Sea-bound tankers idling offshore to stall deliveries until retail prices increase.

2.Oil depots refusing to release stock to gas stations or end-users.

3.Deliberate rerouting of transport trucks to hide or move fuel supplies irregularly.

Mr. Anutin further noted discrepancies in fuel volume data across different agencies. He has directed the integration of maritime tracking data from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center with tax and energy records to trace every drop of fuel transported by land and sea, including illegal exports to neighboring countries.

"The funds the government uses to subsidize fuel prices are meant to help the citizens, not to create loopholes for hoarding or illegal profiteering. No matter who they are or how much influence they have, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," stated Mr. Anutin.

The Prime Minister highlighted that such exploitation severely undermines the Oil Fuel Fund, which currently faces an accumulated loss of over 50 billion THB while providing a subsidy of approximately 17 THB per liter. Consequently, he has ordered the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take over the case to ensure a thorough and swift legal crackdown on these energy cartels.