Report Army Patrol Seizes Over 2 Million Speed Pills in Chiang Dao Drug Bust

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Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a significant drug bust in Chiang Dao district, northern Thailand, over 2 million speed pills were abandoned by smugglers fleeing the scene near the Thai border. The operation, conducted by the army’s Pha Muang task force, discovered the illicit haul after encountering a suspicious group on a known trafficking route.

 

Led by Col Maitree Srisantia, the task force patrol spotted about 10 men carrying modified rucksacks on Tuesday afternoon. When soldiers signalled for a search, the men escaped into the forest, using the challenging terrain and diminishing daylight to their advantage.

 

Upon conducting a search of the area, authorities found 15 rucksacks containing a total of 2.3 million speed pills. The drugs were subsequently handed over to Chiang Dao police for further legal action.

 

This operation is part of a broader crackdown by the Pha Muang task force, which has been active in northern Thailand since October 1 last year. The task force has carried out 272 anti-drug operations, arresting 291 suspects and seizing over 110 million methamphetamine pills, along with significant quantities of other narcotics, including heroin, crystal meth, opium, and ketamine.

 

The task force has engaged in 39 armed confrontations with drug smugglers, resulting in 15 trafficker fatalities. The seizure of these drugs prevented them from reaching Bangkok, where their street value could have exceeded 25.4 billion baht.

 

This latest operation underscores the ongoing efforts and challenges in combating drug trafficking along Thailand's northern borders, highlighting the persistent threat posed by organized smuggling networks in the region.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-29