Police in Chiang Rai arrested a taxi driver after seizing 2.2 million methamphetamine pills hidden inside his vehicle on a secondary road in Pa Daet district. Officers said the suspect had avoided main highways in an apparent attempt to evade detection while transporting the drugs deeper into the country.
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The arrest took place on 8 May during a narcotics suppression operation led by officers from Pa Daet Police Station. The operation was overseen by Major General Manop Senakul, commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, along with senior officers including Colonel Ratthaphon Noichangkid, Deputy Commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, and Colonel Kulachat Sakdiyotinthada, superintendent of Pa Daet Police Station.
Police identified the suspect only as Apichat, 49, from Lat Lum Kaeo district in Pathum Thani province. Officers seized approximately 2,200,000 methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as “yaba”.
Investigators said authorities had received intelligence that a large quantity of narcotics would be transported through Pa Daet district using secondary roads rather than major routes. Officers then established checkpoints and mobile “frog-jump” interception points along the Pa Daet-Jun road to monitor suspicious vehicles.
Pictures courtesy of Daily News
During the operation, police stopped a taxi that appeared to be attempting to blend in with regular traffic. A subsequent search uncovered nine sacks concealed inside the vehicle, each containing methamphetamine tablets.
The suspect was taken into custody along with the seized drugs and transferred to investigators for further questioning. Police said the investigation would continue in an effort to identify other individuals connected to the trafficking operation and determine the wider distribution network.
Daily News reported that authorities have not released further details regarding the origin or intended destination of the drugs. The suspect is to face legal proceedings under Thailand’s narcotics laws.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 10 May 2026