Pha Muang Task Force seized approximately 1 million methamphetamine pills with the logo of the famous football team “Manchester United” after a clash with a drug runner in the forest in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai before they retreated across the border.

Lt. Col. Meechai Nilasat, deputy commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, told CTN News that around midnight on September 5, 2024, soldiers from the Pha Muang Task Force were patrolling the area under their responsibility to prevent and intercept drugs in the area under their responsibility.

While performing their duties, they encountered a group of approximately 2-3 suspicious individuals sitting on the forest’s edge in Ban Pha Taek, Village 10, Wiang Pang Kham Subdistrict, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province.

They identified themselves to request a search, but the group of individuals used an unknown type of firearm to shoot at the officers, resulting in a clash for approximately 5 minutes after the gunfire ceased.

The group of men fled into the darkness of the forest area, and the task force team waited until daylight to inspect the firefight zone.

Upon daylight, soldiers discovered five modified sacks containing 200,000 methamphetamine pills per bag, totaling approximately 1,000,000 pills.

chiang rai meth seizure — The Meth packages were stamped with the Manchester United logo

Lt. Col. Meechai Nilsat said that the drug runners were most likely waiting to deliver the drugs to dealers on the Thai side of the border.

He said the Pha Muang Task Force and all officials have strictly enforced the border area to intercept drugs and keep them from spilling into the country.

In the past week, drug enforcement officials have seized more than 8.9 million methamphetamine pills from drug runners in the border districts of Chiang Rai Province.