On Tuesday evening, police will search for an arrest warrant for the team of three seized petrol smuggling boats that vanished from a sea police pier in Sattahip.
Authorities believe the boats, also carrying illicit oil, are now in Cambodia.
Marine police have been given the task of finding the boats, according to Pol Maj Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ).
Five vessels, including the lost three, were allegedly tasked with carrying illegal oil, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat, who seized them on March 1st, 2019 from the Marine Enforcement Command Centre and CIB.
There were a total of 28 team members on table the arteries, with 16 aboard the missing ships, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat.  ,
The three lost vessels are also carrying 330, 000 litres of illegal fuel, whereas the other two vessels that did not leave the wharf did not have any oil.
According to him, financial crime destruction officers may question those team members who stayed put on Monday.
The three vessels were discovered to have left for Koh Kood in Trat and are believed to possess crossed into Thai waters, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat, Democratic Party deputy president and Nakhon Si Thammarat’s chair, Chaichana Dejdecho.
The canoes left on Tuesday at 8 p.m. and arrived near Koh Kood on Wednesday at 8 a.m., according to the information Mr. Chaichana received from Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat.
Their actual area is, but, still unknown.
At the Chon Buri sea police pier in the area of Sattahip, confiscated vessels are moored there. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )
The CIB deputy director stated that the government are collaborating with their peers in Cambodia to find the ships.
In addition, patrol aircraft and satellites have been used in the hunt.
By Tuesday, an arrest permit for the 16 team members is anticipated to be issued by the court, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat.
The three vessels are reportedly part of a community owned by” Joe Pattani,” a significant oil criminal in the South.
Authorities Maj Gen Jaroonkiat also acknowledged that the incident was brought on by police officers ‘ inability to monitor the seized goods.
He stated that more inquiries will be conducted to determine whether any soldiers intentionally or fraudulently let the boats elude arrest.
Four coastal police officials, including Pol Col Intarat Panya, director of sub-division 5, director of sub-division 5, Pol Lt Col Kobchai To-on, an investigator, two fleet leaders, Pol Sgt Thammarat Lekmontra and Pol Cpl Apichart Channu, are being investigated to ascertain whether or not they are connected to the removal of the ships.
If they discover they have a suspicion of doing so, they will be charged under Section 147 of the Criminal Code for mistreating standard house and Area 157 for failing to perform their jobs.