CHIANG RAI – Police officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), working with a rapid deployment military unit from Task Force Chao Tak and Pha Muang Force, have seized more than 3,800,000 methamphetamine pills in Mae Suai, Chiang Rai.
The operation followed intelligence received on the evening of 2 Nov that a trafficking group would move a large shipment along Highway 118, between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Teams set up intercept points at multiple locations.
Officers later spotted two pickup trucks. The lead vehicle was a gold Toyota Tiger, four-door, with Chiang Mai plates. It was followed by a black Isuzu single-cab. Both came from Mae Lao district, Chiang Rai, heading toward Chiang Mai. At Ban Pong Pu Fueang, Moo 1, Mae Suai subdistrict, Mae Suai district, police stopped both vehicles.
The lead truck was driven by Mr. Jiraphat (surname withheld), 26, from San Sali subdistrict, Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai. No illegal items were found in his vehicle. During the check, the driver of the trailing pickup turned around and tried to flee.
The road curved, the truck lost control, and veered off to the roadside. The driver opened the door and escaped into the dark. Officers searched the cabin and found 19 woven sacks on the rear seat and beside the driver’s seat.
Each sack held 200,000 methamphetamine pills, for a total of 3,800,000 pills. Police seized the drugs and sent them to the Narcotics Suppression Operation Centre, Chiang Rai, for case processing and further investigation.
CIB Police Arrest Fraudster
In a separate case, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), through the Economic Crime Suppression Division, arrested Mr. Niti (surname withheld), 31, from Hat Yai district, Songkhla. He was wanted under five arrest warrants for jointly defrauding the public and, by deceit or fraud, importing into a computer system false or distorted data, in a manner likely to cause harm to the public.
The arrest took place on a public road in front of a shop in Ban Mae Suai, Moo 5, Mae Suai subdistrict, Mae Suai district, Chiang Rai.
This action followed CIB and ECSD work aligned with government policy to crack down on online crime. Investigators found that the Hat Yai suspect fled to Chiang Rai and was working there. An ECSD team from Sub-Division 3 identified his hideout, moved in, confirmed his identity with his ID card, and detained him. He was handed over to investigators at Thammasala Police Station for legal proceedings.
The investigation indicated the case dates back to 2023. Multiple victims were duped by a group that created many fake Facebook accounts posing as specialty retailers. Targets were buyers seeking niche items, such as electrical wire, electrical parts, or air conditioner chemicals.
Once a victim agreed to buy, the scammers provided a bank account belonging to a money mule, identified as Mr. Niti. The scammers then shipped inferior or cheaper goods, or sent nothing at all, and cut off contact. Authorities believe the group used the same method to defraud many more victims.
