CHIANG RAI – Soldiers from the Pha Meung Task Force have seized 2.8 million methamphetamine pills after a firefight on the banks of the Ruak River late at night in Ko Chang, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai.
A cavalry unit from the special Army Task Force received a tip-off and set up an ambush. That evening, they encountered a drug caravan coming across the Rauk River into Chiang Rai, Thailand, under the cover of darkness.
As soon as officers revealed themselves, the traffickers opened fire before fleeing. The team fired back, and after the exchange, the soldiers found 14 sacks on the riverbank, each containing about 200,000 methamphetamine pills, totalling around 2,800,000 pills.
All seized drugs were handed over to Chiang Rai’s Ko Chang Police Station for evidence and legal action.
Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakorn, Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, held a press briefing alongside relevant agencies regarding the major drug bust in Northern Thailand.
He reported that drug impression officers had seizures in five related cases. Police confiscated a total of 3.6 million methamphetamine pills, 149 kilograms of crystal meth and 101 kilograms of ketamine. The drugs were headed for Bangkok and nearby regions.
In the first case, at Huai Rai checkpoint, Den Chai district, Phrae province, officers stopped a ten-wheel lorry and found 1,200,000 methamphetamine pills concealed inside.
They arrested the driver, Mr Phadungkiat, 32, and passenger Mr Theerayut, 36, both from Chiang Rai. Further investigation led to the arrest of Mr Wasupon, 41, and Ms Thanapha, 34, who drove a pickup that acted as a lookout.
All admitted they were hired to transport the drugs from Mae Sai to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
In the second case, still at the Huai Rai checkpoint, officers intercepted another suspicious pickup. They found the vehicle’s floor had been altered to hide 101 kilograms of ketamine and 39 kilograms of crystal meth, packed in tea bags. Two suspects, Mr Saichon, 34, and Ms Duangporn, 35, were detained. They confessed to being paid to move the drugs from the border to Bangkok.
The third case saw officers from Wang Chin Police Station, Phrae, set up a checkpoint and stop two vehicles travelling together. Inside one car, they found 1,800,000 methamphetamine pills. Mr Amphon, 48, Mr Jirayu, 40, and Mr Sunthorn, 46, were arrested. All said they had been paid to transport drugs to Bangkok.
In the fourth case, suspects tried to escape police and abandoned their car in Chiang Rai. Officers located a suspicious Toyota Avanza, but the driver sped away, lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier before running into nearby woods. A search found approximately 110 kilograms of crystal meth hidden in the boot. Authorities are now seeking the owner.
The fifth case took place on 12 August, around 9 pm. Police were manning the Kaeng Pantao checkpoint when reports came in about a drunken disturbance in Ban Huai Jo, Moo 4, Mae Na, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai.
Officers arrived, but the suspect had already fled. During checks nearby, they noticed a woman acting suspiciously, riding a motorcycle toward Ban Mae Mae. The police signalled her to stop, but she panicked and sped off, escaping the officers.
When officers retraced the path, they found an unattended grey Toyota with Chiang Mai plates parked by the roadside. The passenger door was open, and there was minor damage to the front right. Inside, the team discovered six large black bags containing a total of 600,000 methamphetamine pills in the back seat. Police believe these belonged to the escaping suspects.
The evidence was sent to Chiang Dao Police Station for further investigation and action.
Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon said Provincial Police Region 5 continues to work closely with the military, local officials and anti-narcotics agencies. Their goal is to tightly control drug trafficking routes to prevent drugs from spreading beyond the border, with ongoing tough enforcement measures.
