CHIANG RAI – The police in northern Thailand have reported a surge in drug trafficking, with routes passing through Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, and Phrae, and shipments poised for the central region.
In just a few days, Provincial Police Region 5 intercepted four separate loads. Traffickers used modified sedans and pickups, hid pills under farm produce, and even packed them inside sofas. Officers seized more than 13,000,000 meth pills and arrested 10 suspects, including transporters and guides.
On November 12, Pol. Lt. Gen. Kritthaphaphon Yisakhon, Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, led a briefing with senior police officials from Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phrae, and Lampang, along with the 3rd Army Area and ONCB Region 5. They announced four major narcotics cases, totaling 10 suspects and 13,468,000 methamphetamine pills seized.
Case 1
On November 9, 2025, around 7.00 p.m., officers manning the drug checkpoint on Phahonyothin Road, KM 654-655, Moo 15, Sop Prap Subdistrict, Sop Prap District, Lampang, stopped a bronze Toyota sedan, registration กม 4274 Ratchaburi.
The driver was Mr. Rachan, with Ms. Mayura as a passenger. Both showed suspicious behavior. A detailed search turned up about 200,000 meth pills, one homemade handgun, and five rounds of .38 Super ammunition. Officers detained both suspects and sent the case to the Sop Prap Police Station.
Case 2
At the Huai Rai drug checkpoint, Moo 2, Huai Rai Subdistrict, Den Chai District, Phrae, officers from Huai Rai Police Station and partner units spotted a suspicious Nissan sedan, registration กธ 3858 Phetchabun, at 4.30 a.m. on November 10th.
The driver sped off, and officers gave chase. About one kilometer from the checkpoint, they found the car abandoned. A search uncovered 698,000 meth pills hidden in the trunk. Another team tracked down and arrested the driver, Mr. Jae Dao, then seized the evidence and handed the case to Huai Rai Police Station.
Case 3
On the same day, November 10, investigators from Chiang Rai Provincial Police, the Region 5 Investigation Division, the Region 5 Narcotics Operations Center, and ONCB continued work tied to a June 29, 68, seizure by Huai Rai checkpoint officers.
That earlier case involved about 10 million meth pills hidden inside speaker cabinets, and warrants were issued for four more suspects.
Investigators identified Mr. Kritchanachai, also known as To, as the coordinator in that operation. He allegedly continued to direct his network, moving drugs from the northern border zone into the country’s interior. Surveillance of To and his group remained ongoing.
A confidential source then reported that To’s network had rented a warehouse in the Thawi Rat community, Moo 3, Rim Kok Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai, to receive a shipment. Teams monitored the site and noticed suspicious movements of people and pickup trucks on November 9 to 10, 68. Around 1.40 p.m. on November 10, officers moved in and searched the warehouse.
They found 66 sacks containing about 10,000,000 meth pills concealed inside 34 sofas. Four suspects were arrested at the scene. Another unit tailed a vehicle with registration ก 1132 Tak and apprehended a fifth suspect. All suspects and evidence were sent to Mae Yao Police Station, Chiang Rai.
On November 11, 68, police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Kritchanachai, or To, age 40, a resident of Tap Tao Subdistrict, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai, identified as the coordinator of the smuggling operation. The Chiang Rai Provincial Court issued warrant number 900/2568 on November 11, 68, and officers began efforts to locate and arrest him.
Case 4
Investigators from Chiang Mai Provincial Police received a tip that Mr. Choke and Mr. Ton planned to move narcotics through Chiang Mai. Surveillance confirmed the use of a white Toyota Yaris, registration จธ 3852 Chiang Mai, as a lead car.
Officers tracked the Yaris, driven by Mr. Chokchai, also known as Choke. A white Toyota pickup, registration บล 459 Lamphun, driven by Mr. Apichet, also known as Ton, followed behind on the Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway in Saraphi District, Chiang Mai.
The team coordinated with Highway Police and Saraphi Police to stop the pickup with registration บล 459 Lamphun. A search found 2,570,000 meth pills hidden in the truck bed and covered with agricultural produce.
Another team arrested the lead car, registration จธ 3852 Chiang Mai, on the Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway near Tha Sala Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai. All suspects and evidence were transferred to Saraphi Police Station.
From October 1, 2025, to November 11, 2025, Provincial Police Region 5 recorded 2,919 narcotics cases, including 40 major cases. Seizures included more than 49 million meth pills, over 1,100 kilograms of crystal meth, 67 kilograms of heroin, more than 169 kilograms of ketamine, and just over 2 kilograms of opium. Authorities also seized assets from trafficking groups worth more than 23 million baht.
