Phop Phra: Oil shortage! Border villagers in Phop Phra, Tak Province, are worried that they will run out of oil, so they rush to fill up at gas stations, waiting in long lines for hours.
According to Thai News Agency, the oil shortage situation in the Thai border area is still critical after measures were taken to block call center gangs and prohibit oil from being sold to neighboring countries. Most recently, in the area of Phop Phra, Tak Province, there were long lines of villagers waiting to fill up and buy oil for hours after being worried that the oil would run out. It was reported that the price of oil in Myawaddy, Myanmar, has soared to 200 baht per liter, making oil in high demand.
This problem caused soldiers from the 421st Infantry Regiment, the Rajamanu Task Force, to patrol the border area and arrest three Thai men who were pushing 200-liter steel drums down the Moei River near the Thai-Myanmar border. An inspection found 800 liters of oil. During questioning, they confessed that they were smuggling oil to sell in Myawaddy, which was in serious shortage, and they said they got a good price and double the wages. Initially, the three men were taken along with the evidence to be prosecuted at Phop Phra Police Station.