A Lao national has been arrested after police seized 1.36 million methamphetamine pills worth an estimated 17 million baht during a drug trafficking operation along the Thai-Lao border in Bueng Kan province.
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On 4 June, officers from the Crime Suppression Division arrested 36-year-old Lao citizen Thao Krisada on charges of jointly distributing a Category 1 narcotic, methamphetamine, in a manner that caused widespread distribution and affected state security. Authorities also confiscated 1,360,000 methamphetamine tablets as evidence.
The arrest followed an investigation into the “Tae Tha Phra” drug trafficking network, which authorities said had regularly smuggled narcotics into Thailand through Chiang Saen district in Chiang Rai province. Investigators found members of the network frequently crossed between Thailand and Laos through natural border routes.
According to police, increased enforcement efforts in northern Thailand prompted the network to shift its smuggling routes to the Thai-Lao border areas of Bueng Kan, Nong Khai and nearby provinces. Officers coordinated with relevant agencies and launched a surveillance operation to intercept the group.
Police later received intelligence that the network was preparing to transport a large drug shipment into Thailand using Lao nationals crossing through unofficial border routes in Bueng Kan. Officers established surveillance along Highway 212 between Bueng Kan and Nong Khai.
During the operation, police observed two suspicious cars repeatedly driving through the area before stopping by the roadside. A group of men then emerged from a nearby forest carrying several sacks and began loading them into the vehicles.
Officers moved in to conduct a search, prompting the suspects to flee in different directions. Thao Krisada was arrested at the scene, while two other Lao nationals escaped. The seized sacks were found to contain the 1.36 million methamphetamine pills.
Pictures courtesy of Matichon
During questioning, Thao Krisada admitted he and two fellow Lao nationals had been hired by a man identified only as Noi to transport the drugs across the border into Thailand. He told investigators he had been promised 5,000 baht for the job.
The suspect said he deeply regretted being arrested because he has three children to support. He reportedly believed the task would be simple and that he would quickly receive payment for completing it.
Matichon reported that police have transferred Thao Krisada to investigators with the Crime Suppression Division for legal proceedings. Authorities are continuing efforts to identify and arrest other members of the trafficking network and expand the investigation.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Matichon 5 June 2026