ONCB Chief Receives Four Thai Fugitives Returned from Myanmar

Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid 

Thai narcotics officials travelled to Chiang Rai on 11 December 2025 to take custody of four Thai nationals wanted on arrest warrants issued in Thailand, following their detention by Myanmar authorities. The operation marks another step in the government’s nationwide crackdown on drug crimes under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s national agenda against narcotics. Officials said the transfer underscores intensified cross-border cooperation to dismantle criminal networks and reduce public harm.

The team was led by ONCB (Office of the Narcotics Control Board) Secretary-General Pol Lt Col Suriya Singhakamol, joined by senior provincial, immigration, customs and security officials at the Second Friendship Bridge between Mae Sai and Tachileik. The mission was supported by coordinated efforts between Thai agencies including Immigration Bureau, Chiang Rai Provincial Police, the Royal Thai Police, Pha Muang Task Force, Northern Border Narcotics Suppression Unit (No. 35), Customs Department and local administration. They also worked alongside Myanmar’s Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) and local immigration officials, exchanging intelligence that enabled verification of criminal histories.

Two of the suspects were wanted in major narcotics cases. The first, Mr. Plachana, 33, from Uttaradit, is the subject of an Uttarakit Provincial Court warrant for selling and possessing crystal methamphetamine and is linked to “Mr. Phattharaphong”, an alleged trafficker responsible for sourcing 500,000 to 1.2 million yaba tablets for distribution across lower northern provinces. The second, Mr. Wirat, 37, from Chiang Mai, is wanted by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for yaba distribution and is suspected of sourcing drugs from neighbouring countries for local sale.

The remaining two individuals are connected to other criminal matters. Ms. Thida is wanted under a Nakhon Sawan Provincial Court warrant on a fraud charge, while Mr. Cherdchai was previously arrested in a narcotics case in 2010. Officials described the arrests as the result of coordinated intelligence-sharing and joint monitoring of cross-border movements, enabling the confirmation of outstanding warrants and criminal records.

Pol Lt Col Suriya thanked Myanmar authorities for their active cooperation in clearing criminal hideouts involving drug and non-drug offenders. He emphasised that the success stemmed from the combined efforts of the Royal Thai Police, Immigration Bureau, Pha Muang Task Force, Northern Border Narcotics Suppression Unit and the Customs Department. He added that Thai nationals involved in drug trafficking at all levels had increasingly fled to neighbouring countries, making international cooperation vital for enforcement.

Thaitabloid reported that authorities will continue integrating operations across all agencies to strengthen border security and suppress narcotics-related activity. ONCB officials said the priority remains to safeguard communities and ensure ongoing investigations lead to further arrests and dismantling of transnational drug networks.

Key Takeaways

• Thai officials took custody of four fugitives returned from Myanmar, including two wanted in major drug cases.

• The arrests followed joint intelligence-sharing between Thai and Myanmar authorities under the government’s anti-drug agenda.

• ONCB says integrated enforcement will continue to target cross-border drug networks and enhance public safety.

 Adapted by Asean Now from Thaitabloid 2025-12-13