Report Army Seizes Drugs Worth Millions in Deadly Chiang Mai Shootout

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Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In the early hours of June 5, a deadly confrontation unfolded in Chiang Mai's Fang district as an army patrol clashed with armed drug traffickers. The ensuing firefight resulted in the death of one smuggler and the seizure of 200,000 methamphetamine pills and 20.8 kilogrammes of opium, highlighting the intense efforts against drug smuggling in Thailand's northern border provinces.

 

The incident occurred around 12.35am when the Chaiyanuparp special unit from the Pha Muang task force engaged four to five armed suspects in the forested region of Ban Yom Ban Kluai village, Mon Pin subdistrict. The smugglers, loaded with rucksacks, were ordered by soldiers to surrender. Instead, they opened fire, leading to a five-minute exchange in which the troops returned shots as the suspects attempted to flee.

 

Following the confrontation, additional army units were called in to secure the area. Come morning, a thorough search led to the discovery of three rucksacks containing the illicit drugs. One smuggler was found dead at the site, underscoring the dangers entrenched in these drug-running operations.

 

Colonel Maitree Srisantia, the chief of staff of the Pha Muang task force, and Colonel Thanaphat Saengnak, deputy commander of the Chaiyanuparp special unit, were on the ground to oversee the aftermath of the skirmish. The seized drugs have since been transferred to local police, who will continue the investigation and pursue legal action.

 

This event is part of a larger crackdown on drug trafficking in the region. Since October 1 last year, security forces have disrupted 284 smuggling attempts, leading to the arrest of 299 individuals and the confiscation of vast quantities of narcotics, including 112.65 million meth pills and substantial amounts of heroin, crystal meth, opium, and ketamine.

 

The Pha Muang task force has reported 40 skirmishes with drug trafficking gangs during this period, resulting in 16 smugglers dead. These efforts highlight the ongoing struggle to secure Thailand's borders against the influx of illegal drugs and protect local communities from the scourge of narcotics.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-06