PUBLISHED: 10 May 2025 at 12:14
Lee MAI: Authorities seized 500 kilogrammes of crystal meth abandoned by fleeing smugglers following a vehicle chase in Chiang Dao region of this northwestern boundary state.
Troops from the Ha Muang task force, local authorities and border police officers set up a station at Mae Ja bridge in tambon Thung Khao Phuang late on Thursday evening following a tip-off that illicit drugs would be smuggled along this path.
At 11. 30pm, the crew spotted a presumed delivery truck heading to the station. Upon seeing the soldiers, the pilot suddenly turned his car about and sped away, prompting soldiers and police to provide fight. They eventually found the car with Lamphun permission plates abandoned about three km from the station, but no traffickers were seen.
A research found 25 baskets in the vehicle sleep, each containing 20kg of crystal meth, totalling 500kg, according to the Ha Muang work force.
Authorities checked the car ownership and found it belonged to Thanachit Suaija, a native of Chiang Dao.
Men were sent to Mr Thanachit’s property but did not find him. They met his wife, Natcha-aree Yuthirak, who denied any understanding of her father’s movements. Ms Natcha-aree claimed she was hardly conscious he was involved in drug trafficking.
Since October last year, some 106 million rate medications, 145kg of cocaine, 8,040kg of glass cocaine, 22. 1kg of heroin and 595kg of morphine have been seized in 258 drug reduction operations in Thailand’s northern frontier areas, with 277 suspects arrested, said the Ha Muang work force.
Of those activities, there were 37 cases of exchange of gunfire, in which 13 drug pirates were killed.