SURAT THANI, THAILAND – Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation expanded its probe into suspected fuel stock irregularities and oil transport discrepancies centered on a depot in Surat Thani and sea shipments from eastern refineries.
DSI announces inspection and summonses
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said it would inspect an oil depot in Surat Thani on Monday and summon executives from several oil transport companies. The steps formed part of a broader inquiry into suspected fuel hoarding and irregularities in oil deliveries.
According to the agency, the actions targeted both storage practices and reported distribution volumes. Investigators focused on whether any conduct had distorted supply during a period of national fuel tightness.
Three cases under review, one already a “Special Case”
Pol Maj Woranan Srilam, director of the consumer protection cases division and DSI spokesperson, said the Special Case Committee had accepted three oil-related cases for examination. One of these had already been formally registered as a special case, while the others remained under investigation.
The committee’s decision meant the cases could be handled under the DSI’s special procedures. Further determinations on the remaining matters were expected once initial inquiries were completed.
Surat Thani depot flagged over sales during nationwide shortage
The first case, registered as Special Case No. 59/2026, involved an oil depot in Surat Thani where authorities detected irregularities in fuel distribution. According to the findings, the depot reportedly sold 2.1 million liters of oil in February but only 400,000 liters in March, even though the country experienced fuel shortages during that period.
Investigators considered the sharp drop in reported sales against the backdrop of limited national supply. The figures raised questions about how fuel was allocated and whether stocks were withheld from the market.
Stock checks with the Energy Ministry
On Friday, DSI investigators met the Department of Energy Business to verify all inventory data. The aim was to cross-check reported storage and release volumes and to document any discrepancies in a traceable way.
Officials compared records from the depot with figures held by the energy authorities. This coordination was intended to establish a clear baseline before the on-site inspection.
On-site visit: witness interviews and case transfer
The investigators’ visit to the depot was scheduled for Monday, when witnesses were to be questioned. The DSI also planned to officially take over the investigation file from the local police and continue the case centrally.
The transfer was expected to consolidate evidence under the special investigation framework. It also signaled that the agency viewed the matter as having broader implications beyond the local level.
Second strand: suspected irregularities in oil transport
A second case remained under review and concerned suspected irregularities in the transport of oil. Authorities uncovered discrepancies in a total of 20 oil shipments carried by ship from refineries in eastern Thailand to Surat Thani.
Preliminary estimates suggested that 57 to 60 million liters of oil were reported missing during transport. At the same time, the quantity recorded at the destination appeared higher than that registered at the point of origin, a contradiction now under scrutiny.
Investigators sought to clarify how reported losses could coincide with higher arrival figures. The outcome of this analysis was expected to determine whether further legal steps would follow.