Pattani Police Detain Fishing Boat Smuggling Diesel From Malaysia

By MOHD HAIKAL MOHD ISA PATTANI (Southern Thailand), Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Police in southern Thailand detained a modified fishing boat in the waters off Pattani, and seized more than 70,000 litres of diesel believed to have been smuggled from Malaysia. Pattani Marine Police Chief Lt.Col. Puttinan Puttitanon said in the incident Monday afternoon, 10 marine police personnel raided the boat and detained four of its crew, comprising two Thai nationals, one Cambodian and one Laotian, "The boat had been modified and was paid to smuggle diesel from Malaysia to Thailand. It was carrying 120,000 litres of diesel, but part of it had been sold in the open seas," he said here Tuesday. He added that there was no registration documents for the petrol seized from the boat and was meant for buyers in Songkhla. Puttinan added that with the arrest of the four crew-members, police are tracking down the mastermind behind the syndicate. -- BERNAMA