The Thai military has seized 2,300kg of cooking oil smuggled from Malaysia from a pickup truck detained at the Satun border with Perlis on 4 January. According to Malay Mail, Satun-Perlis Border Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Human Trafficking operations chief, Col Nipol Chantana, said the truck was halted at 6pm during checking following which the driver was taken into custody. "The authorities found 1,700kg of cooking in 1kg packets and 600kg in 5kg bottles," said the officer.
After the initial investigation, it was revealed that the cooking oil was likely to be sold in markets in Hat Yai city, for 35 Baht (RM4.40) per 1kg packet and 180 Baht (RM22.60) per 5kg bottle. Hat Yai city marks the southernmost city of Thailand near the Malaysian border.
The officer also dished out other information to reporters. He said that the truck, which had been detained, was often used to smuggle goods out of Malaysia. The colonel added that the Thai military also arrested a ketum herb trafficker, who was smuggling the recreational drug out of Malaysia on the same day. Officers have seized 49kg from the culprit.
