Pickup Truck Overturns; Police Seize 884kg of Ice Drugs
A pickup truck overturned on a Chiang Rai highway revealed 884kg of methamphetamine in 24 sacks; the driver fled before police arrived and authorities are investigating the drug trafficking network.
At 9:50 PM on September 16, 2024, Ban Saew Police Station in Chiang Rai, along with district administration officials from Chiang Saen, border patrol units, and other agencies, responded to reports of a vehicle accident. Officers led by Chiang Rai Provincial Police Commander Manop Senagrool and Ban Saew Police Deputy Inspector Pathan Phatthanaphakdi investigated a blue Isuzu pickup truck that had overturned on Highway 1290 near Ban Saew village, about 100-200 meters from Ban Saew Temple.
Upon arrival, police found the pickup lying on its side loaded with numerous black bags. The driver had already fled before officers reached the scene. A subsequent inspection of the bags revealed methamphetamine in 24 sacks, totaling approximately 800 tablets weighing 884.25 kilograms in total. The vehicle and its contents were seized and transported to Ban Saew Police Station for evidence processing and legal procedures.
Closed-circuit camera footage from nearby areas showed the truck traveling from Chiang Saen toward Chiang Khong when it veered off the road and overturned. A villager who discovered the accident informed police. The driver noticed people gathering at the scene and took the opportunity to flee before officers arrived. Police also noted that the vehicle's license plate appeared to lack the standard security watermark, suggesting it may be forged. Authorities are investigating the vehicle's chassis and engine numbers, tracking the driver, and pursuing leads on the broader drug trafficking network involved.
