SATTAHIP, THAILAND – Three tanker-truck drivers were accused of stealing diesel worth more than 3.6 million baht by allegedly refilling their vehicles with water before a scheduled offshore delivery.
Routine check exposed water-filled tankers
All appeared normal when three tankers arrived at Juk Samet Pier in Sattahip with a declared load of 126,000 litres of high-grade B-0 diesel destined for an offshore oil platform. During a routine quality check at 7:30 p.m., the crew of the supply vessel discovered that only clear water flowed from the tankers. The planned transfer to the platform was halted immediately, with the loss estimated at 3.65 million baht (about 90,000 euros).
Drivers fled before police arrival
The three suspected drivers had reportedly collected the fuel that morning in Mab Ta Phut, Rayong. Before police could arrive at the pier, they fled the scene, leaving the allegedly manipulated tankers behind. Thanaporn Udomratnukulchai, 35, transport manager at Pattamwat Petroleum Co., Ltd., promptly filed a complaint with Sattahip police.
Investigators suspect carefully planned fuel swap
Police investigators believed the theft was the result of a sophisticated plan. The drivers were thought to have pumped out the valuable diesel en route and replaced it with tap water. The authorities were examining when and where the exchange took place, and where the 126,000 litres of stolen diesel might have been stored or sold on the black market.
Police tracked tankers via GPS data
Police Colonel Komsan Kamtuenkaew, head of Sattahip police, said officers were relying on technology to reconstruct the route of the trucks.
“We are tracking the GPS data of the tankers, minute by minute.”
said Komsan Kamtuenkaew, Sattahip police chief.
Safety risks for offshore operations
The incident was seen not only as a financial loss but also as a potential safety hazard. Water in the diesel tanks of an oil platform or ship could have caused catastrophic damage to machinery. The operation of generators, pumps and engines at sea would have been acutely at risk, and the safety of the platform crew could have been compromised.
Company feared damage to reputation
Pattamwat Petroleum expressed concern that the case could harm its standing as a reliable supplier to the energy-intensive offshore industry. The firm’s role in the logistics chain placed it under scrutiny as police examined every step of the transport. Investigators were also looking at whether any accomplices may have helped divert or store the missing diesel.
Manhunt for suspected tanker thieves
Police in Chonburi launched an intensive search for the three missing drivers. Their identities were already known to investigators because they were employed by the company. Officers were checking whether other actors in the logistics network had assisted, including anyone who may have bought the allegedly stolen fuel.
Pressure from energy sector on investigators
Authorities noted that the thieves had effectively taken on the powerful Thai energy industry. The sector was putting strong pressure on investigators to solve the case quickly. Police indicated the fugitives were unlikely to enjoy the proceeds of the alleged crime for long.