PM Orders Crackdown on Alleged Illegal Fuel Smuggling

PHNOM PENH, April 3, 2026 (KPT) – Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered a nationwide probe into alleged illegal fuel smuggling from Thailand, vowing tough action against offenders as part of Cambodia’s wider energy security drive.

The directive follows Thai media reports claiming that networks are transporting fuel across the border for resale, despite a ban on imports from Thailand.

In a statement on his official social media page, Hun Manet instructed Energy Minister Keo Rottanak, the National Police and the General Department of Customs and Excise to investigate the allegations.

“If such activities are confirmed, all individuals involved must be identified and face the strictest legal action,” he said, underscoring a zero-tolerance stance toward illicit fuel operations.

The premier warned of severe consequences for any entities found complicit. Fuel companies implicated could lose their licenses, while officials or armed forces personnel involved would be dismissed regardless of rank.

The move comes as Cambodia consolidates its energy security framework after suspending all fuel and gas imports from Thailand in June 2025. The government has since stressed that domestic demand can be met through alternative supply sources, ensuring stable availability nationwide.