Chiang Rai clash leaves three suspected drug couriers dead

Three suspected drug couriers were killed after exchanging fire with Thai security forces in Mae Fah Luang district, Chiang Rai, authorities said. Officers recovered about 390,000 methamphetamine tablets, known locally as yaba, from the scene.

Colonel Suphan Rojphutth, commander of the Task Force Thap Chao Tak, received a report at 9.45pm on 28 July 2026 that a drug-smuggling group had crossed from the border into Mae Fah Luang district. He ordered tighter security checks across the area.

A patrol from Ranger Company 3107, under the 31st Ranger Regiment Task Force of the Pha Muang Force, later encountered an estimated five or six men at the Pha Daeng natural crossing near Ban Pong Hai, Moo 21, Mae Salong Nai subdistrict.

The men were carrying packs on their backs and had entered Thailand from the border area, officials said.

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

When rangers identified themselves and attempted to search the group, the men allegedly fired at them with unidentified weapons in an attempt to escape. A firefight lasting around five minutes followed.

Two further Task Force Thap Chao Tak units were sent to reinforce the patrol and seal off the surrounding forest.

Drugs and weapons recovered at daybreak

At 6am on 29 July, officers cleared the area and found three members of the alleged smuggling group dead. They also found three modified sacks used as backpacks, each containing about 130,000 yaba tablets.

The total seizure was approximately 390,000 tablets. Officers also recovered one Thai-made cap gun and one long-barrelled shotgun.

At noon, Major General Sathit Wainyon, commander of the Pha Muang Force and director of its narcotics suppression operations centre, ordered Colonel Suphan to inspect the site with doctors from Mae Fah Luang Hospital, Chiang Rai prosecutors, Mae Fah Luang police and district administrative officials.

The seized drugs and weapons were taken to Mae Fah Luang Police Station for legal proceedings.

Major General Sathit said that between 1 October 2025 and the present, the Pha Muang Force had intercepted narcotics on 446 occasions and arrested 428 suspects.

Over that period, it seized 263,288,207 yaba tablets, 20kg of heroin, 6,674.3kg of crystal methamphetamine, 378.6kg of opium and 1,089.5kg of ketamine. The force had also exchanged fire with trafficking groups 63 times, resulting in 49 deaths among those groups, he said.

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31 July 2026