Laotian Man Arrested with 602,000 Meth Pills Near Mekong
Laotian man Thao That was arrested in Loei Province after security forces intercepted a major drug shipment along the Mekong River. Authorities seized 602,000 methamphetamine pills, ice, ketamine, vape products, an illegal firearm, and two mobile phones. The suspect is now in police custody facing charges.
Security forces ambushed and arrested a Laotian man trafficking 602,000 methamphetamine pills, along with ice, ketamine, 99 vape pods, and an illegal firearm along the Mekong River in Pak Chom District, Loei Province on October 9, 2026. The operation was directed by the Second Army Region and the 24th Narcotics Suppression Command, with Loei Provincial Police taking the lead through Pak Chom Police Station, in coordination with the Surasak Montri forces, the Upper Narcotics Interdiction Unit (3rd Control Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment), the 2104 Ranger Company, and the 246th Border Patrol Company. After receiving a tip about a drug shipment along the eroding riverbank behind Ban Pak Neam village, Moo 5, Huay Phichai Sub-district, Pak Chom District, authorities apprehended one suspect: Thao That, a 26-year-old Laotian national. Officers seized ten items of evidence, including 602,000 methamphetamine tablets, 1.90 grams of ice (methamphetamine) in its packaging, 1.0478 kilograms of ketamine, 99 e-cigarette vape pods, 19 electronic cigarettes, a modified 9-millimeter firearm with two 9mm rounds and one .38 round, and two mobile phones—a black iPhone 12 Pro Max and a silver Vivo Y04. The suspect and all seized items were handed over to the Pak Chom Police Station investigators for further legal action. The case resulted from joint security and police efforts to interdict narcotics trafficking along the Mekong River border.
