Drug smugglers trying to profit from Chiang Rai floods stopped, 1 million methamphetamine pills seized

As residents of Chiang Rai province struggle with the worst flooding in 60 years, the Pha Muang Task Force is patrolling the northern border to prevent drug cartels from taking advantage of the situation.

On September 16, Maj. Gen. Prawat Phopsuwan, commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, said soldiers encountered a caravan of men in Ban Mae Kham Noi, Village 18, Tambon Thet Thai, Amphoe Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai. The soldiers ordered the men in the caravan to stop, but instead they opened fire on the soldiers.

Major General Prawat said the fighting took place at around 3:20 am and that after the firefight ended, the soldiers called for reinforcements and waited until dawn to investigate the firefight zone.

During a search of the firefighting area, soldiers discovered approximately 1 million methamphetamine pills in the forest area.

The Class 1 Narcotic (methamphetamine) was found in 5 rainbow straw bags that had been converted into backpacks. When opened, approximately 200,000 methamphetamine pills were found in each bag, totaling approximately 1 million methamphetamine pills.

The soldiers confiscated the drugs and later handed them over to detectives at Mae Fah Luang Police Station.

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