Troops Seize 6.4 Million Pills in Border Gunfight
Thai troops recovered 6.4 million methamphetamine pills after a firefight with smugglers in Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao district on July 17. The suspects escaped into a ravine despite the gunfight, but no officers were injured.
At 5:30 a.m. on July 17, 2569, Chiang Dao Mountain Unit forces under Special Operations Unit Chaiyanupap launched an intensive interdiction operation against drug smugglers on a natural mountain route about 5 kilometers from the Doi Jai checkpoint, in Ban Kaenoi subdistrict, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province. Three task forces from the 2nd Horse Cavalry Regiment had been conducting rigorous patrols and surveillance since July 10.
This morning, checkpoint officers detected approximately 30 smugglers moving along a ravine trail on foot. When officers positioned on high ground gave a warning signal and demanded a search, the group opened fire with unknown weapons. A gunfight erupted for about five minutes amid heavy rain and thick fog. Using their terrain knowledge and poor visibility to their advantage, the suspects escaped into the ravine.
After the clash ended, all Thai officers remained safe. A sweep of the gunfight area recovered methamphetamine pills in 30 sacks totaling approximately 6,490,000 tablets. Initial examination identified them as blue 999-branded methamphetamine: 19 sacks containing 220,000 pills each, and 11 sacks containing 210,000 pills each. Authorities are controlling the area and expanding the investigation to pursue and arrest the fleeing suspects for legal proceedings.
