CHIANG RAI – The sound of gunfire echoed down the mountains into downtown Mae Sai as soldiers from a cavalry unit from the Taksin Task Force clashed with a drug caravan near the Thai-Myanmar border. The soldiers intercepted couriers carrying backpacks and seized 1,000,000 methamphetamine pills, believed to be tied to the “Ban Sam Pi” network.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, soldiers from Cavalry Company 2, Taksin Task Force, under the Pha Muang Task Force, inspected the border area near Huai Nam Rin village, Moo 7, Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai district. A patrol was set up to prevent and disrupt narcotics offenses along the natural border with Myanmar.
Just after midnight, the team spotted 5 to 6 suspects crossing into Thai territory with modified sacks on their backs. When officers identified themselves and attempted a search, the suspects opened fire with unknown firearms. A firefight followed and lasted about 10 minutes, with shots clearly heard due to the site’s proximity to Mae Sai town.
All soldiers were unharmed. Because it was still dark, the unit secured the area and held position. At about 6 a.m., troops returned to the contact point to examine the scene. The gunmen had fled, likely back across the border into Myanmar.
At the site, officers found five adapted straw sacks used as backpacks. Inside each sack were methamphetamine tablets, wrapped and marked with a blue “999” stamp. Each sack contained 200,000 pills, for a total of 1,000,000 pills. The drugs were seized as evidence, and relevant agencies were notified to pursue further investigation.
According to the Pha Muang Task Force, across from Huai Nam Rin on the Myanmar side sits Ban Sam Pi in Tachileik, an area home to Akha communities and adjacent to zones influenced by the Muser group in Tachileik.
Traffickers often move narcotics from production sites in Wa Army-controlled areas through routes linking Ban Pha Mee, Huai Nam Rin, and the Mae Sai border checkpoint. The Pha Muang Task Force continues to deploy forces along these corridors and has intercepted multiple attempts.
