CHIANG MAI – Troops stepped up patrols along the Fang border in Chiang Mai after a drug convoy was spotted crossing into Thailand. During a brief firefight, one suspect was killed and a large haul of methamphetamine tablets was recovered.
On 3 January, soldiers from the 4th Cavalry Company, Chaiyanuphap Task Force, under Pha Muang Forces, were carrying out a patrol to prevent and stop drug trafficking under narcotics laws. The operation took place near Huai Nok Kok village (Moo 15), Mon Pin sub-district, Fang district, close to the Thai-Myanmar border.
The patrol team later saw four men acting suspiciously. They were walking into Thai territory while carrying green rucksacks. Officers identified themselves and moved in to search the group, but the men opened fire with an unknown type of gun. The exchange of gunfire lasted about five minutes.
After the shooting stopped, all officers were reported safe. One suspect was found dead at the scene, shot by officers. The remaining suspects escaped into the forest.
A search of the area found two abandoned green rucksacks. Each bag contained 130,000 methamphetamine tablets (ya ba), bringing the total seizure to about 260,000 tablets. Officers also recovered one locally made long gun (a homemade musket-style firearm).
Pha Muang Forces commander Major General Sathit Waiyanoon ordered Colonel Meechai Nilsart, the deputy commander, to inspect the scene and oversee the seizure. All evidence was handed to Fang Police Station for legal action.
Wider crackdown figures
Pha Muang Forces also reported broader results from 1 October 2025 to the present. During that period, officers stopped drug smuggling 154 times, arrested 161 suspects, and seized:
- 78,726,935 methamphetamine tablets
- 1.2 kg of heroin
- 1,277 kg of crystal meth (ice)
- 1.5 kg of opium
- 227.2 kg of ketamine
There were 23 clashes with armed groups, with 13 suspects killed. Officials said that if the drugs seized had reached Bangkok, the estimated economic damage based on sale value could have reached 15,359,610,775 baht.
