LAMPANG – Police, working with Thailand’s Provincial Police Region 5, announced results from an operation called “Sabh Termite Gang,” after officers intercepted a major drug shipment totaling about 2,800,000 methamphetamine pills. Investigators later tracked linked vehicles using license plate reader (LPR) cameras and expanded the case, leading to five arrests.
Officers at the Saliam Wan checkpoint (Wiang Mok Police Station) and the Nong Chiang Ran checkpoint (Thoen Police Station) set up a roadblock as part of Region 5’s anti-drug interception plan (Inthanon 159/2568).
Around 12:30 a.m., police spotted a suspicious gray Mazda sedan, plate number ขอ 4282 Nakhon Ratchasima. When officers signaled the driver to stop for inspection, the car accelerated and fled. Police chased the vehicle along the Thoen to Thung Saliam road.
Soon after, officers found the car stopped off the roadside near kilometer marker 56. No one was inside, and no suspects were seen nearby. However, a search of the vehicle uncovered 14 cardboard boxes filled with methamphetamine pills, totaling about 2.8 million tablets. Police also seized seven additional items of documents and evidence and forwarded the case to investigators at Wiang Mok Police Station.
LPR cameras help trace a three-car convoy
After the seizure, officers expanded the investigation and reviewed LPR data. The scan results suggested three vehicles traveled together along the same route from Chiang Rai through Chiang Mai and into Lampang:
- A red Mazda sedan, plate กม 8790 Lampang
- A gray Mazda sedan, plate ขอ 4282 Nakhon Ratchasima (the vehicle carrying the drugs)
- A black Chevrolet minivan, plate ขฉ 3550 Chiang Rai
Because of that, police alerted checkpoints to watch for the two companion vehicles. Later, officers confirmed the red Mazda and the black Chevrolet passed the Huai Rai drug checkpoint in Phrae and continued into Lampang.
Police then located both vehicles on a parallel road near Phahonyothin Road, in front of the PTT gas station at Pa Kham Intersection, Mueang Lampang District. Officers moved in and detained three suspects for questioning: Wachirawit (Pond), Thanakrit (Dream), and Hansa (Kim).
Chat Evidence Points Police to “Termite Gang”
During the follow-up, investigators found the group allegedly coordinated the transport through a LINE chat named “Termite Gang,” with six members in total.
Based on statements from the three detainees, police learned that three more people in the network fled toward the Sop Prap District. Officers then coordinated with the Sop Prap drug checkpoint (Sop Prap Police Station) to intercept them.
At the Sop Prap checkpoint, police stopped a white Honda Jazz, plate ขจ 2757 Chiang Mai. The driver was identified as Apichai (Bank), with Wachiraphon (Ploy) as a passenger.
During the search, officers found a key for the gray Mazda, plate ขอ 4282 Nakhon Ratchasima, the car used to carry the drugs. Police detained both suspects for continued investigation and case expansion. In total, authorities reported five suspects arrested in connection with the operation.
Region 5 Commander Lt. Gen. Kritthaphon Yisakorn said officers now put a strong focus on technology, especially LPR cameras and pattern matching for vehicles traveling together. That approach, he said, helped identify and catch members connected to the shipment.
He also stated that in early March, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is expected to provide four additional drug X-ray vehicles for Region 5 to support tougher enforcement across Northern Thailand.
Recent anti-drug statistics were shared at the briefing
Authorities also shared broader enforcement numbers.
Provincial Police Region 5 (Oct 1, 2025 to Feb 25, 2026):
- 11,854 drug cases total
- 142 major cases
- Seized evidence included:
- Meth pills: 194,499,026 tablets
- Ice (crystal meth): about 4,219 kg
- Heroin: about 70 kg
- Ketamine: about 462 kg
- Opium: about 69 kg
- Estimated asset value: about 460 million baht
Lampang Provincial Police (Oct 1, 2025 to Feb 25, 2026):
- 1,246 drug cases total
- 10 major cases
- Seized evidence included:
- Meth pills: 12,640,264 tablets
- Ice: 279,000 grams
- Opium: 174 grams
- Estimated asset value: about 34 million baht
