Over 30 Drug Smugglers Boldly Cross Border in Broad Daylight, Clash with Thai Military

A bold group of over 30 smugglers attempted to transport methamphetamine across the border in broad daylight, clashing with Thai military personnel. At 5:00 PM on January 30, 2024, Major General Sathit Waiyanon, commander of Pha Mueang Force, and Colonel Thawat Inkong, deputy commander of Chao Tak military unit, along with related agencies, investigated 30 sacks containing approximately 6 million methamphetamine pills in the forest area of Huay Nam Rin Village, Wiang Phang Kham Subdistrict, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. The incident began at 12:30 PM when military personnel from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of Chao Tak military unit and Pha Mueang Force were patrolling the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, to prevent drug-related offenses. Upon discovering a suspicious group of 30-35 individuals carrying modified straw sacks along the border, officials attempted to inspect them. The group responded by firing unknown weapons, leading to a 5-minute gunfight. After the shooting ceased, the military personnel were safe, while the smugglers escaped using their knowledge of the terrain. Authorities managed to capture one 17-year-old Myanmar national. Thirty modified sacks were found scattered in the forest, each containing approximately 200,000 methamphetamine pills, totaling around 6 million pills. The captured youth confessed to being part of a group of about 30 people smuggling drugs from Pa Sak Village in Tachileik, Myanmar, for a payment of 15,000 baht. He admitted this was their sixth smuggling attempt. The suspect was taken into custody along with the seized drugs for further legal proceedings.