CHIANG MAI – Thai border patrol police successfully stopped a major drug smuggling attempt in northern Thailand early Wednesday morning. Officers seized more than one million methamphetamine tablets hidden near a local dump site.
The successful operation took place in the Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai province. Acting on a timely tip, authorities moved quickly to intercept the smugglers before the drugs could move further into the country.
Key Takeaways
- Massive Seizure: Border Patrol police seized approximately 1,080,000 methamphetamine pills packed into five large yellow bags.
- Early Morning Raid: The operation took place around 4:30 AM at a local trash dump in the Ping Khong sub-district.
- Suspects Escaped: A group of four to five smugglers fled into the dark forest after spotting approaching police car headlights.
- Joint Agency Effort: Multiple security forces, including the military and local police, joined to secure the area by sunrise.
The operation began after Police Major Weerawat Ta-kaeyang, commander of Border Patrol Police Division 335, received urgent intelligence. A local source reported that a drug gang planned to move illegal narcotics during the long holiday weekend.
According to the original report by MGR Online, the smugglers were moving the drugs from border villages toward inner Thailand. Police Lieutenant Jitipat Jiammee quickly led a fast-moving action team to scout the target area near Huai Luek village.
Smugglers Flee Into the Night
Around 4:30 AM, officers spotted three to four flashlights moving near the Huai Luek village dump site. They noticed a group of four to five people carrying heavy loads through the area.
As the police team drove closer, the suspects noticed the oncoming vehicle headlights. Using their familiarity with the rough terrain, the smugglers quickly scattered into the darkness and escaped into the nearby forest.
When officers searched the abandoned spot, they discovered five modified yellow fertilizer sacks left behind by the fleeing suspects. Each sack contained about 200,000 methamphetamine tablets, known locally as “yaba.”
The total count reached roughly 1,080,000 pills. Because night conditions limited visibility, officers secured the scene until daylight to ensure safety and preserve any physical evidence.
At sunrise, Border Patrol Division 335 called in reinforcements from the Chaiyanuphap Task Force and Chiang Dao local police. Together, these security forces safely collected the evidence and moved the contraband to headquarters.
Officials counted and officially recorded the seized drugs at the Border Patrol office in Thung Khao Phuang. The entire legal file and drug haul were later handed over to the Chiang Dao Police Station for further criminal investigation.
