Police officer shot dead by drug traffickers

[Lite Beer]

Police officer shot dead by drug traffickers

CHIANG RAI: -- A police lieutenant was shot dead and an informant was critically wounded after they were shot by drug traffickers who happened to realise the drug deal was a trap.

Killed was Pol Lt Kriangkrai Phumprueksachat, 54, a crime suppression officer attached to Chiang Rai provincial police command.

The informant for police was not identified. He was admitted to Chiang Rai hospital for serious shot wound on his head.

Chiang Rai police deputy chief Pol Col Charun Rerngtham said the police received a tipoff that drug traffickers were smuggling drugs into Doi Hang village in Muang district to sell to local agents.

A drug deal was successfully reached with the drug gang by the informant. The gang then fixed a location inside a jungle to deliver the drug to the informant.

The officer and the informant rode on a motorcycle to the jungle where the traffickers laid in wait.

They handed over 4,000 methamphetamines priced at 120,000 baht to both of them and left.

But shortly afterwards, four traffickers returned in two motorcycles and opened fire at the two and sped off after they happened to know the deal was a trap.

A brief gunfight happened after the other plainclothes police accompanying the officer hearing the gunshots and rushed to rescue them.

The traffickers left behind two motorcycles and the drugs and managed to escape into the jungle.

But Pol Lt Kriangkrai died at the scene and the informant critically injured.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-officer-shot-dead-by-drug-traffickers

-- Thai PBS 2015-04-18

[Costas2008]

Although sometimes we are taking the piss out of the RTP, have to admit that they have a risky job to perform and also put their lives on the block.

Like this instance.

RIP Pol Lt Kriangkrai.

On the other side, looking at the photograph, don't they have a certain height requirement to join the Police?

[Brit_Doggie]

Ahh u didnt spot that he entered the swampy jungle necessitating having to remove his socks before the photo shoot, so seemingly looking small.

And a good job they do too even though at times we ridicule them, and i being one wouldnt like to risk my life as they do, good on ya boys.

[wabothai]

cowards and against the wall with them.

[angiolo]

Well bless my cotton socks , someone is praising the RTP

[Squeegee]

It was a set up, and yet a deal was done and then the dealers went back?

I don't understand.

[Bignose]

Not a day passes without someone ridiculing the RTP on this site, yes we all know about the low standards of training, the endemic corruption and the tardy investigative practices!

This is most definitely the other side of the coin as far as the RTP goes, risking and in this case sacrificing their lives to get the evil drugs off the streets.

I have never been able to understand how someone can go into this kind of situation, how they can work undercover when they know the vicious nature of those they deal with and the risks they take.

I just don't have the guts to do it, I'm no where near brave enough nor do I have the social conscience to motivate me, I'm far happier to sit at home on my fat arse and drink beer.

We all owe a debt to people like Pol Lt Kriangkrai Phumprueksachat, he should be bestowed with the highest honor available, with his family taken care of for life, the country owes him nothing less...

[scd]

On the other side, looking at the photograph, don't they have a certain height requirement to join the Police?

The people of the North are small people. A tall Thai would stand out a mile away.

[kartman]

It was a set up, and yet a deal was done and then the dealers went back?

I don't understand.

They discovered the money was fake .

[ChaangNoi]

I don't understand this either. They got the money and left, then after they got away they found out it was a trap and came back?