On August 19, 2025, police announced results of a large-scale anti-drug operation targeting a major trafficking network. Acting on an investigation that began with the arrest of a suspect carrying 105 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the Ramkhamhaeng area in late July, detectives identified a criminal group smuggling drugs from northeastern Thailand into Bangkok and its suburbs.

Undercover officers arranged to purchase 200,000 methamphetamine pills, leading to a sting operation on August 16 in Pathum Thani province. At around 7:20 p.m., Wattana, 39, arrived in a black Toyota Fortuner with two suitcases containing drugs to hand over to an undercover agent. Police moved in to arrest him and three associates waiting at a Big C shopping mall: Arisa, 53; Thawi, 48; and Vishnu, 35.

Following the arrests, officers searched Vishnu's residence in Lad Lum Kaew district, Pathum Thani, which served as a drug hideout. The search uncovered 1,826,000 additional methamphetamine pills and components for 14 firearms, 13 magazines, four gun barrels, and ammunition. In total, police arrested four suspects, seized 2,036,000 pills, two vehicles, and five mobile phones. Officers also seized assets believed to be proceeds of crime, including two land titles, three bank books, a car, and a motorcycle, valued at over 63 million baht. The suspects face charges of drug trafficking and weapons violations.

Deputy Prime Minister Yotchanan Wongswatsdi and Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangrungkit, together with Deputy Interior Minister Jachai Thai-sahat, visited the N.1 water-monitoring station near Nan city on August 19 to oversee the escalating flood situation. The visit was attended by senior officials from the Irrigation Department and provincial administrators.

Extreme rainfall concentrated in Pua District has caused severe flooding across four districts: Pua, Phu Phiang, Santisukhon, and Tha Wang Pha, with water levels ranging from 50cm to 1.2 metres. The Nan, Pua, Yang, and Khwang rivers have all overflowed, threatening homes and agricultural land.

Minister Suriya ordered 24-hour monitoring and mobilized water pumps—including a 14-inch pump in Muang Nan and three 8-inch pumps in Wiengsa—to accelerate drainage and relief efforts. Current water levels at the N.1 station stand at 7.62 metres, approximately 88cm below the reinforced embankment, but are rising steadily. Officials warn water may breach defenses by 60cm in Muang Nan District between 2:00 and 4:00 on August 20.

Deputy PM Yotchanan announced a unified single-command emergency center operating around the clock, with cabinet approval and full provincial coordination. Residents in high-risk areas are urged to evacuate to safe zones immediately and move valuables at least 60cm high. Emergency alerts have been broadcast via cell phones. The Interior Ministry is preparing rehabilitation plans for affected communities once water levels recede.

The national police chief has ordered the Region 5 Provincial Police to mobilize personnel, equipment, vehicles, and drones to assist residents affected by flooding in Nan province and help them reach safe areas until the situation improves. On August 19, deputy national police spokesman Trairong Phiwphan disclosed that following disaster alerts from the National Disaster Warning Center under the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, warning of flash floods, runoff, and short-term flooding in Nan province, along with meteorological forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall in upper Thailand, national police chief General Kittiphat Punthet ordered all related units to provide full assistance to affected residents according to the national police disaster prevention and mitigation plan.

The chief assigned responsibility to three deputy national police chiefs overseeing administration, crime prevention and suppression, and security, with the last also directing the National Police Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center. The Region 5 Provincial Police is designated as the primary unit responsible for disaster prevention and mitigation, coordinating with provincial and district incident command centers and local government organizations, and deploying personnel, equipment, vehicles, boats, drones, and supplies to assist the public in evacuating from risk areas, providing water, food, basic medical treatment, and security.

Additionally, the police will organize emergency response teams, establish temporary shelters, coordinate evacuation routes to safe areas, set up field kitchens, protect official buildings and documents, manage traffic on main and alternative routes, and dispatch water police with boats and rescue equipment. The Border Patrol Police Command will deploy emergency teams and support operations by mobilizing vehicles, boats, and equipment to assist residents, setting up field kitchens and temporary shelters in nearby border patrol areas, while the Central Investigation Command's water and highway police will position rescue boats and equipment to assist residents in flood-risk areas and guide them to safety.

On August 19, a police officer from Mae Sai district in Mae Hong Son province reported to journalists that his sister, Jiraporn, 23, from Li district in Lamphun, died alongside her newborn son during an unexpected delivery at the district hospital around midday. The incident has deeply troubled the family, as Jiraporn had been in good health, yet the hospital has not provided any details about her death.

Jiraporn was married to Chakarit, 31, and had a seven-year-old son. She was expecting her second child and had been receiving prenatal care at the district hospital. When she reached her due date, the family brought her to the hospital using their gold card benefits. While relatives waited for updates, hospital staff instructed them to go home and await news. Staff later urgently called them back to the hospital, where they learned Jiraporn had died during delivery. The hospital performed an emergency caesarean section and delivered a baby boy, but the infant was not breathing. Staff attempted cardiac resuscitation but were unable to save the child, who died shortly after. The hospital has sent Jiraporn's body and her newborn to the forensic medicine department at Chiang Mai University's Maharaj Hospital to determine the cause of death.

The abbot of Wat Pa Adul Yarama in Khon Kaen's Kang Sadarn community has forgiven recent disturbances at the temple, emphasizing that the temple is a sanctuary of compassion and he holds no grudge despite 22 years of ongoing problems. He stated he has not slept at the temple due to fear and briefly stayed elsewhere, but now requests only one police officer to remain on duty around the clock to deter troublemakers, rather than a large security presence. The abbot has asked that tour groups be discouraged from visiting and requested police focus their resources elsewhere in the busy city, where they are already stretched thin.

After returning from medical treatment at Srinakharinwirot Hospital under Khon Kaen University, the abbot thanked all agencies assisting with the situation and expressed renewed energy to speak with visitors and plan temple activities. He emphasized the need for compassion in resolving the matter, noting that the legal case is ongoing in court and all parties must follow judicial orders. Regarding temple security measures, he declined to have the temple gates closed to the public, saying they have always been open for community members and visitors to use 24 hours a day, and that would not change.

Thai Yamaha Motor awarded Yamaha FAZZIO Hybrid Lite motorcycles valued at 49,900 baht each to Nattakorn Chuakwon of Assumption School and Sudaratana Levan of Kanchanaburi College in Krabi, who both earned tournament MVP honors at the 7HD Sports Championship 2026 volleyball competition for men and women. The men's final saw Assumption School defeat Kham Talay Sawan School 3–2 in sets, while Kanchanaburi College dominated the women's final against Nakhon Nonthaburi Sports School with a 3–0 victory. Thai Yamaha Motor continues to sponsor youth sports initiatives and reinforce the FAZZIO Hybrid brand as a lifestyle choice for young people, partnering with Channel 7HD across four youth sports tournaments: men's 3×3 basketball, volleyball, sepak takraw, and football. The company also engaged Yamaha Club members through its "Feel The Unique Experience" concept, allowing fans to attend the tournament and connect the brand with youth lifestyle activities. The motorcycle presentations took place at the Nimit Butr Sports Building at the National Sports Stadium.