In a dramatic twist worthy of a maritime melodrama, the saga of the missing oil-smuggling ships has gripped the nation. Picture this: a marine police boat valiantly escorting three elusive vessels back to the Port of Songkhla after they vanished into thin air earlier this week. Yes, according to Assawin Pakkawan, the ships, brimming with a whopping 330,000 liters of contraband oil, had briefly evaded capture.
The plot thickens with an ongoing investigation that reads like a crime thriller. A leaked chat has unveiled unsavory connections between some police officers and the sly mastermind of this oil-smuggling operation. The three errant ships, seized on March 19, had been idling at the marine police pier in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district with two other seized vessels, waiting for justice to catch up with them. On the day of the seizure, 28 crew members were apprehended, charged with smuggling, and then released on bail for a hefty sum of 3 million baht.
Fast forward to June 12, and the plot takes another twist—the three ships vanished with 15 crew members aboard. Despite their attempt to slip away, the noose tightened on Monday near Malaysia’s maritime border where they were recaptured, albeit with only eight crew members in tow. Almost all of the 330,000 liters of diesel oil had been siphoned off, leaving empty holds and more questions than answers.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), disclosed an initial finding that ties the vessels to a notorious network helmed by “Joe Namman Thue,” better known to his underworld peers as “Joe Pattani.” On March 19, a certain Mr. Lek had contacted the police, desperate for an assist that was resolutely denied. The CIB believes this Mr. Lek was the purse behind the bail money, acting upon Joe Pattani’s orders.
“This fiasco has tarnished the reputation of the Royal Thai Police (RTP). We must strike decisively against all wrongdoers, including our own men,” declared Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat. Further deliberations with public prosecutors will chart the course of action.
The plot gets juicier with a Line chat leaked to the media, exposing conversations between marine police and Joe Pattani. “Initial findings confirm the chat’s authenticity, but the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) need more time to wrap up the investigation,” Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat added.
The next act in this unfolding drama involves a police officer identified merely as “N,” who will be summoned for questioning. The deputy chief of the CSD, Pol Col Anek Taosuparb, revealed that the eight crew members from the recaptured ships were flown to Bangkok for interrogation at the CSD headquarters. The investigation aims to unearth any links to Joe Pattani, with more revelations expected next week.
The case might even take an international turn as police consider reaching out to Interpol for a Red Notice to track down the seven remaining crew members still at large. All eyes are on the next chapter of this maritime mystery, which promises more headlines in the coming days.
How on earth do ships vanish into thin air? This reeks of corruption at the highest levels!
Seriously, it’s like a bad action movie. Who’s running the show here?
Right? Feels like they’re all in on it. The police are either incompetent or involved.
@Sarah I bet they are involved. Too many coincidences.
Not just corruption, but a systematic failure. This could have severe international repercussions.
Or it could just be regular people trying to make a quick buck and failing miserably.
@Analyst486 True, but let’s not overdramatize it. It’s a serious crime, but manageable if handled correctly.
I wonder if Joe Pattani is just the scapegoat. There’s always someone higher pulling the strings.
Exactly! These guys are always just pawns in a bigger game.
Perhaps, but it’s still important to cut the head off the snake we know first.
@Jake Parris True, but let’s not ignore the bigger picture.
How convenient for Joe Pattani to be implicated right when police corruption is questioned.
Convenient, indeed. It stinks of a cover-up.
Why even bother chasing these ships? There’s bigger fish to fry.
Every smuggling ring counts. You can’t ignore them just because there are larger crimes.
@Josephine True, but resource allocation matters. Focus on what’s more impactful.
Police getting cozy with criminals? Shocking… not.
Isn’t this always the case? Power corrupts.
@Eduardo F Absolutely, but it needs to be called out every time.
What puzzles me is how easily they could siphon off that much oil knowing the heat was on them.
Probably had insiders giving them a heads-up.
@Kathy H It’s not just Brussels sprouts, it’s also about having the right maritime infrastructure to pull this off!
This sounds like a high-stakes crime novel. Too outlandish to be happening in real life.
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. These stories do happen.
@Aiden Clearly, Thailand could publish a bestseller with this material.
What a colossal waste of resources. The entire system needs an overhaul.
I’m more shocked by the bail amounts! 3 million baht is pocket change for these smugglers.
Marine police and Joe Pattani, what a duo. So typical.
Good luck getting Interpol involved. They have enough on their plate.
You’d be surprised. They might take this up just to make an example.
@Jane D Maybe, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Even if they capture the remaining crew, the real criminals are still free.
That’s always the challenge, isn’t it? The kingpins always seem to evade justice.
I feel like we need more transparency on this investigation.
Agreed, Nathan. The public has a right to know.
@Luna Exactly. Secrecy breeds suspicion.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this goes unsolved. Just another news cycle.
Honestly, are the police trying to catch these guys or just pretending?