CHIANG RAI – In a major blow to cross-border drug trafficking, Thai paramilitary rangers seized four million methamphetamine tablets following a dramatic late-night pursuit in the rugged terrain of Northern Thailand. The operation, which took place near the famous scenic lookout of Phu Chi Fa, highlights the ongoing struggle to secure the “Golden Triangle” border regions.
The incident began late Tuesday night when troops from the 3105th Ranger Company of the 31st Paramilitary Ranger Task Force spotted a suspicious Ford Everest SUV with Chiang Mai license plates. The vehicle was descending from the Phu Chi Fa area, heading toward the main road connecting Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces.
According to official reports from MGR Online, the SUV was traveling at high speed, prompting security forces to signal for a search at a designated checkpoint. Instead of stopping, the driver attempted a frantic U-turn to evade the officers. The sudden maneuver at high speed caused the driver to lose control, sending the vehicle plunging into a steep roadside drainage ditch.
Despite the violent crash, the driver managed to kick open the door and flee into the dense forest under the cover of darkness. Security forces immediately surrounded the area, but the difficult terrain and lack of light allowed the suspect to escape.
Local authorities from the Theung District Police Station and administrative officials were called to the scene to secure the perimeter and inspect the abandoned vehicle.
A Massive Haul of “Methamphetamine “
Upon searching the interior of the SUV, investigators discovered 16 large rainbow-colored sacks packed tightly into the cabin. These sacks are commonly used by trafficking syndicates to transport illicit goods across the border.
The scale of the seizure is staggering:
- Total Sacks: 16 large fertilizer bags.
- Estimated Quantity: Approximately 250,000 tablets per bag.
- Total Seizure: 4,000,000 methamphetamine tablets (locally known as “Yaba” or crazy medicine).
- Market Value: While prices fluctuate, a haul of this size represents tens of millions of dollars in street value.
This seizure is part of a broader intensification of drug suppression efforts in Northern Thailand. Only days prior, Police Region 5 announced the results of two other major operations, netting an additional 7 million tablets.
Security experts note that trafficking groups are increasingly using secondary roads and mountainous paths to bypass heavily guarded main highways. The Phu Chi Fa route, while popular with tourists, provides a challenging landscape for law enforcement to monitor 24/7.
The seized narcotics and the vehicle have been handed over to the Theung Police Station for forensic examination. Investigators are currently tracing the vehicle’s registration and searching for fingerprints to identify the driver and the larger network behind this shipment.
Major General Nirandorn Thongpan, a spokesperson for the security forces, emphasized that patrols will be increased in the border districts of Chiang Rai to prevent the influx of narcotics during the rainy season, when visibility is low, and movement is harder to track.
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